Purpose:  Depression and social anxiety among ethnic minority adolescents have numerous adverse effects including increased risk for suicide, gang affiliation, drug use and academic failure. Previous studies have looked at the linear model of cultural acquisition. However, few, if any, have looked at the impact of being bicultural. Drawing on a conceptualization of the acculturation process, this study examines the impact of four hypothesized self- construal patterns (bicultural, western, tradition, and culturally alienated) on depression and social anxiety.

Method:  The sample for this analysis will consist of 140 Vietnamese American adolescents between the ages of 14-18 (42% were male). Symptoms of depression are measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The Somatization subscale of Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) is added to the study to assess alternative means of expressing emotional distress in Asian Americans. Research indicates that Asians tend to express emotional distress, particularly depression, primarily through somatic channels. Social anxiety is measured by the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale. Self construal is measured by using two components: Interdependent and independent self construals.

Result: ANOVA analysis will be conducted. Individuals scored high on both interdependent and independent scales (bicultural) expected to have the lowest level of depression and social anxiety. To determine whether there is an additive effect or interactive effect between two dimensions, two regression models will perform: (1) the additive model where independent and interdependent self are regressed onto particular criterion, and (2) the full model where interdependent self, independent self, and independent self X interdependent self are regressed onto the criterion. Independent self construal and interdependent self construal are expected to be orthogonal. Interactive effects of these two dimensions are not significant.

Implication: These results indicate that maintaining the balance between traditional sense of self and mainstream host sense of self proves to be a protective factor against emotional distress in Vietnamese American adolescents. This provides new insights into intercultural sensitivity, which facilitates individuals' adaptive behaviors.