Perceived Marital Status and Depressive Symptoms among Asian Americans with Same-Sex Partners

Abstract

By observing factors that predict depressive symptoms, this study examines the need to identify whether the perception or the reality of being married helps Asian Americans in same-sex partnerships improve their mental health. In a Texas sample (N = 1,840) of respondents to a survey on needs and hardships of Asian ethnic communities, 163 individuals (n = 9%) reported having a same-sex partner; this subsample reported a 24.5% depression rate as measured by the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist. Logistic regression results from those with a same-sex partner show 3 findings: having a perceived status of being married may reduce the likelihood of having depressive symptoms by 73.4%; those with discrimination concerns may be 2.7 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms; and those with domestic violence problems may be 2 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms.

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