Multilevel factors associated with depressive mood among multicultural adolescents in South Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT Applying a social-ecological model (SEM) approach, we examined different factors associated with the depressive mood of multicultural adolescents in South Korea, including if engaging in transnational ties with the mother’s home country is associated with depressive mood. We included multicultural adolescents (n = 1,160) in the 2017 Multicultural Adolescent Panel Survey of the National Youth Policy Institute. We found an association between depressive mood and multicultural adolescents in South Korea at different levels of the SEM. Maintaining transnational ties with the mother’s home country may have a detrimental impact on the psychological well-being of multicultural adolescents, especially female adolescents.