Parent-Child Communicative Practices Regarding Depression Among Chinese International Students

• In Event: Depression, Mental Illness, Mental Health Communication

Abstract

The study aims to explore the communicative practices between Chinese international students in the US and parents in coping with depression. The participants were recruited through convenient sampling and purposive sampling method in the Chinese communities. The data was collected by interviews and focus groups. Grounded theory method was employed to analyze data. Thematic analysis of the data developed five themes: (1) selective depression communication with parents, (2) different communication styles of mothers and fathers, (3) positive and negative feedback of parents influence depression communication, (4) childhood experiences influence depression communicative practices, (5) interdependence and conflicting expectations restrain depression communication. The results suggest that parents-young adults communication rooted in cultural contexts should be emphasized to address depression of Chinese international students. More importantly, the complex characteristic of interdependence between parents and Chinese young adults indicated that their expectations may conflict with each other, following both positive and negative communication practices.

Authors

• Lan Jin, Purdue University

• Lalatendu Acharya, Purdue U