Longitudinal study of acculturative stress and depression among Minority College students in China

Minority college students represent a significant sub-group in China. They face challenges and risks related to acculturative stress and depression in cross-cultural contexts, which may impair their physical and mental development and, in turn, affect the ethnic unity of Chinese society. Therefore, their acculturative stress and depression is an issue of concern. The present study examined the relationship between acculturative stress and depression among college students from minority backgrounds in China using immediate moderated mediation and delayed moderated mediation model. This longitudinal study involved a one-year follow up period. A total of 312 minority college students were recruited in Beijing, China. During wave 1, 205 participants being followed-up at wave 2. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires measuring acculturative stress, depression, hope, and cultural intelligence. The results indicated a strong positive association between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms. In the immediate and delayed predictions of depression by acculturative stress, immediate/delayed hope plays a mediating role, respectively. As cultural intelligence increases, the immediate predictive effect of hope on depression weakens. When cultural intelligence is high, both the delayed direct and indirect effects of acculturative stress on depression are weakened.