Part I
PROPOSED TOPIC: How does perceive racial discrimination contribute to depressive symptoms among Immigrant adolescents in the United States.
An unprecedented increase in international marriages and good immigration policies have resulted in a massive influx of immigrants from all corners of the world in the United States. This has purportedly altered the ethnic composition of the allegedly ethnically homogenous society of the United States. According to the American Community Survey (ACS), the U.S. immigrant population stood at more than 43.3 million, or 13.5 percent of the U.S. population in 2015. The number continues to rise as more immigrants continue to settle. While the economic impact of migration remains to be studied, the mental health consequences for immigrants especially the adolescents has not received much attention.
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The process of adapting to a new environment to immigrants involves learning new language and cultures while retaining one’s original culture, settling down and coping with the environmental changes ( Cristin et al., 2016) . For adolescents, these stressors become further exacerbated as they add more challenges to the already existing developmental changes ( Pascoe& Smart Richman, 2009). A study Mereish et al. (2016) revealed that many of the adolescent’s immigrants were reported to having high-stress levels and depressive symptoms as compared to non-immigrants. Hence, the need to analyze the psychological adaptation of immigrant adolescents and their mental well-being.
Apart from the stressors associated with migration, racial prejudice is one another stressor that immigrants have to cope with. Scholars posit that one of the major developmental phases in an adolescent is the formation of identity ( Stein et al., 2016) . Social contexts such as schools provide a platform through which they can learn to navigate multiple cultures and negotiate their own identity. However, acculturation of immigrants' adolescents in schools is not always possible due to discrimination. Young adolescents have to cope with physical and psychological tools from their peers and school administrators on the basis of their ethnicity and race ( Cristin e et al., 2011). Besides, they have to endure unfair and differential treatment. All these places adolescents at the risk of experiencing mental health conditions and depression. The purpose of this study is to examine how racial discrimination is related to depressive symptoms among adolescents' immigrants.
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H1: Adolescents immigrants are likely to suffer from depressive symptoms because of discrimination as compared to adolescents’ non-immigrants.
H2: High levels of low-esteem issues were positively related to discrimination, thus more depressive symptoms.
H3: Cultural identity and social support positively influence the psychological adaptation of immigrant adolescents in the highly discriminative environment.
As other studies had predicted it, our research study hypothesized that adolescent immigrants were likely to suffer from depressive symptoms because of emotional distress that comes with the migration process. Besides, the study speculated that there was a correlation between low self-esteem and discrimination. Low self-esteem emerged from unfair and differential treatment, negative relationships with the peers because of their perceived race and ethnicity. The study also hypothesized that cultural identity and social support factors positively influence the adaptation of young adolescents into the multicultural environment.
PARTICIPANTS: Selected in an urban-based high school in the northern part of U.S.
The participants of the study included 150 students attending an urban-based high school with a relatively high percentage of immigrant students, in the northern part of the United States. Out of the 150 students, 90 participants (60%) were male, and 60 (40 %) were identified as female. The participants' age ranged from 13- 18 years old, most of which were aged 14-15 years old. The average age of the participants was therefore 15 years. Based on their ethnicity and their place of birth, 49% of the students were foreign-born, and 51% had migrated in the United States before attaining eight years. Of the 49%, 30 were female, and 40 were male. The participants self -identified themselves as either black, Hispanic/ Latin, Caribbean or Asian. Their countries of origin were Africa, Mexico, Asia, and South America. The number of participants who identified themselves as black (n=60, 40%), Hispanic (n=50, 33.3%), Caribbean (n=15, 10%), and Asian (n=25, 16.7%).
SAMPLING METHOD : Random sampling method was used to identify the participants.
This study aimed to examine the relationship between racial discrimination and depression among immigrant adolescents' students in the Northern part of the United States. To, therefore, analyze the interrelationship, the sample would be collected from a high school with the largest population of immigrant students. The information that will be used in determining whether the participants qualify to participate in the study will include their ethnicity race, they must come from the minority population, and they must be adolescents. Participants would be randomly selected first and then eliminated depending on their qualifications for the study.
Part II
DATA COLLECTION /PROCEDURES
Before beginning collecting the data, we sought approval from the college management. After approval and collaboration from the institutional management, the participants were asked to join the survey research by signing the consent forms. They were also informed of the aim of the study, and they were assured of anonymity. The survey consisted of a comprehensive, structured questionnaire that included questions of their background, experiences of discrimination in school (Feelings of isolation, worry about their safety, differential treatment, trust towards institutions). Apart from their questionnaire, structured interviews were also conducted to assess the student's overall perception about discrimination and their impact on their mental health. The interview took approximately 3 hours. A standardized health examination would also be used to determine the mental health status of the students. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem issue would be observed. The survey was conducted by bilingual personnel to collect all information especially on students who experienced difficulties in communication English.
Measurements
Perceived discrimination was measured by the Peer Discrimination Scale which comprises of -10 item. To measure the extent of discrimination, the participants were asked questions such as , “In your day -to day- life how often do you experience bad treatment on basis of your ethnicity", "Have you been called names or insulted verbally", "Do you feel bad when people make jokes because of your ethnicity." Responses ranged from 1(never) to 5(always).
The 10-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to assess the participants' overall perception of their self-belief and self-worth based on the discrimination they had received in schools. Responses such as an "I am worthless," "I am satisfied with myself " was measured in a five-item scale with one representing (strongly agree) and 5(strongly disagree).
The self -depression scale was used to assess the participants' psychological well-being( Grollman,2012) . The participants were asked whether they experienced features of depressive symptoms such as loneliness, stress, and lack of sleep. Responses such as, "I feel bored of attending schools," “ I cry every day because of discrimination" were indicted a 4-point Likert scale 1=Never, 4-almost never.
DATA ANALYSIS
Logistic regression analyses would be conducted to determine the interrelationship between perceived racial discrimination and mental health symptoms such as depression, loneliness, and stress. Perceived discrimination and gender would be used as an independent variable while depression which is one of the mental health symptoms would be the dependent variable. Cultural identity and social support were included in the analysis as variables to investigate moderating effects. The Chi-square test would be used to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms between the natives and ethnic minorities who are mostly the immigrants.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD
As our first hypothesis had predicted, the overall results revealed that adolescent immigrants in the United States reported significantly more depressive symptoms as compared to the natives. Young immigrants experience discrimination that ranges from differential and unfair treatment, being bullied and isolated. This may have a profoundly damaging effect on the psychological well being of the young adults as they less structured coping mechanisms to deal with stressors as compared to adults ( Donovan et al., 2013) . Previous studies had reported that indeed discrimination has a negative ramification in the psychological well-being of minority adolescents ( Tummala-Narra & Claudius, 2013). This study, therefore, helped in adding more knowledge as to why adolescents represent the highest percentage of individuals with the highest risk of depression.
The results of our study revealed that social support systems are essential when it comes to the psychological adaptation of immigrant adolescents. Adolescents students who received support in school regarding encouragement no matter how small it was were less depressed as compared to those who did not. For immigrant students, finding friends who fit into their own cultures and build positive relationships is always a daunting task. Social support, especially from teachers, provides an essential counterbalance in a society where prejudice and lack of acceptance is the order of the day ( Stein et al., 2016) . The teachers who helped us conduct the study were able to gain insights as to how to learn how their perceived support contribute either positively or negatively to mental wellness.
The results also revealed that there is a relationship between self-esteem and discrimination. Most of the participants suffered from low levels of self-esteem because of isolation which in turn led to depressive symptoms ( Mereish et al., 2016) . This association has not been investigated much previously. By our study delving into this critical aspect, it was able to add more knowledge to the existing literature. Besides, people studying in the field of psychology will understand how discrimination not only in immigrants significantly contributes to lower levels of self-esteem.
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS
There were several limitations to our study. One, not all the instruments that we used in our data collection been validated and evaluated in other cross-cultural settings. This implies that our study was bound to experience some validity and reliability issues. Besides, some of the questions in our questionnaires had binary responses, where the participant would answer yes or no. This kind of data collection method was bound to leave some aspects of experienced discrimination out. This means that the participants could not express themselves well. As it is in all studies, there were some aspects of bias because most of the interviewees were also from the minority population. They were more likely to be inclined to the minority participants as compared to the natives. Despite the limitation, our cross-sectional study was able to analyze three minority groups separately and come up with their perceptions about discrimination and what factors mainly contribute to their depression.
DISCUSSION
In conclusion, the study investigated the relationship between racial discrimination and its impact on the mental well-being among adolescent immigrants. First, 95 percent of the participants reported discrimination in their schools suggesting that racial discrimination is still prevalent in the United States. Secondly, racial discrimination is one of the main factors that significantly contribute to depression among adolescents. This finding was inconsistent with studies that had been conducted by other scholars on the relationship between racial discrimination and depression. Third, social support systems to be coping mechanisms when it comes to the psychological adaptation of immigrants.
All these findings suggested that racial discrimination has a detrimental effect on mental wellness not only in the school setting but also in the broader context of society. Non- discrimination in the society should be promoted to enhance the social and psychological well-being of migrants. Besides, natives should be educated on the importance of integrating others despite their race or color to promote peaceful co-existence. Future studies should conduct research studies that focus more on mediating factors such as identity and cultural factors as a significant link between racial discrimination and individual mental wellness.
References
Cristini, F., Scacchi, L., Perkins, D. D., Santinello, M., & Vieno, A. (2011). The influence of discrimination on immigrant adolescents’ depressive symptoms: What buffers its detrimental effects?. Psychosocial Intervention , 20 (3), 243-253.
Donovan, R. A., Huynh, Q. L., Park, I. J., Kim, S. Y., Lee, R. M., & Robertson, E. (2013). Relationships among identity, perceived discrimination, and depressive symptoms in eight ethnic‐generational groups. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 69 (4), 397-414.
Grollman, E. A. (2012). Multiple forms of perceived discrimination and health among adolescents and young adults. Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 53 (2), 199-214.
Mereish, E. H., N'cho, H. S., Green, C. E., Jernigan, M. M., & Helms, J. E. (2016). Discrimination and depressive symptoms among Black American men: Moderated-mediation effects of ethnicity and self-esteem. Behavioral Medicine , 42 (3), 190-196.
Pascoe, E. A., & Smart Richman, L. (2009). Perceived discrimination and health: a meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin , 135 (4), 531.
Stein, G. L., Supple, A. J., Huq, N., Dunbar, A. S., & Prinstein, M. J. (2016). A longitudinal examination of perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms in ethnic minority youth: The roles of attributional style, positive ethnic/racial effect, and emotional reactivity. Developmental psychology , 52 (2), 259.
Tummala-Narra, P., & Claudius, M. (2013). Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among immigrant-origin adolescents. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology , 19 (3), 257.
