Moderating effects of three coping strategies and self-esteem on perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms: A minority stress model for Asian international students.

2008/10/01 by Meifen Wei, Tsun‐Yao Ku, Tsun-Yao Ku +4 · 252 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Clinical psychology #Cognition #Coping (psychology) #Depressive symptoms #Gender Diversity and Inequality #International Student and Expatriate Challenges #MEDLINE #Multilevel model #PsycINFO #Psychiatry #Psychology #Racial and Ethnic Identity Research #Self-esteem

paper · doi:10.1037/a0012511

published in Journal of Counseling Psychology 55(4), 451-462 (American Psychological Association)

openalex publication_date 2008/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

This study examined 3 coping strategies (reflective, suppressive, and reactive), along with self-esteem, as moderators of the relation between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. International students (N = 354) from China, India, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong provided data via an online survey. The role of perceived general stress was statistically controlled. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated a significant direct effect of perceived discrimination, a significant 2-way interaction of perceived discrimination and suppressive coping, and a significant 3-way interaction of perceived discrimination, reactive coping, and self-esteem in predicting depressive symptoms. An increased tendency to use suppressive coping appeared to strengthen the association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. In contrast, the association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms was not significant when reactive coping was infrequently used, but only for students with relatively high self-esteem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Citations

• Trajectories of perceived adult and peer discrimination among Black, Latino, and Asian American adolescents: Patterns and psychological correlates.
• Everyday Sexism: Evidence for Its Incidence, Nature, and Psychological Impact From Three Daily Diary Studies

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