The relationship between depression and self-concept discrepancy among different generations of Japanese-American...

Investigated the relationship between real-ideal self-concept discrepancy and depression among different generations and age groups of Japanese-American women in Hawaii. In contrast to the numerous results with Caucasian Ss, the present findings revealed that self-concept discrepancy and depression are related positively for certain generations (i.e., Nisel, young Sansei), but not others (i.e., old Sansei, Yonsei). It was speculated that the differences were due to acculturative and historical experiences that mediated personality pattern development. The findings also point out the ethnocentricity of one of the most supported notions in Western psychology (i.e., the relationship between self-concept discrepancy and maladjustment).