Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 109, Issue 2 , Pages 128-137, February 2010

Expressed Emotion and its Relationship to Adolescent Depression and Antisocial Behavior in Northern Taiwan

  • Bee-Horng Lue

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wen-Chi Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nutrition and Health Science, School of Healthcare Management, Kanin University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Lee-Lan Yen

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Lee-Lan Yen, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, 17 Hsu-Chow Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan

Received 17 April 2009; received in revised form 25 June 2009; accepted 9 July 2009.

Article Outline

Background/Purpose

Despite widespread recognition of the occurrence of antisocial behavior and depression in adolescents, the specifics of the relationship between them have not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of expressed emotion as a proximal factor for depression and antisocial behavior among adolescents, by looking at direct and indirect relationships.

Methods

Secondary data analysis using path analysis was carried out on 2004 data from the Child and Adolescent Behaviors in Long-term Evaluation project. The study sample consisted of 1599 seventh-grade students in Northern Taiwan. Variables included family factors, personal factors (sex and academic performance), expressed emotion [emotional involvement (EI) and perceived criticism (PC)], depression, and antisocial behavior.

Results

We found that one dimension of expressed emotion, PC, directly influenced student depression and related indirectly to antisocial behavior. Depression was an important mediator between PC and antisocial behavior. Another dimension, EI, did not influence either depression or antisocial behavior. Sex was related directly to expressed emotion, depression, and antisocial behavior, and also indirectly to antisocial behavior through PC and depression. Academic performance was related directly to expressed emotion and indirectly to antisocial behavior through PC and depression.

Conclusion

Greater PC from parents directly contributed to higher levels of student depression and was related indirectly to more student antisocial behavior. It is suggested that parents should decrease overly critical parenting styles to promote adolescent mental health and avoid the development of antisocial behavior.

Key Words:  adolescent , antisocial behavior , depression , expressed emotion , perceived criticism

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PII: S0929-6646(10)60033-2

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60033-2

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 109, Issue 2 , Pages 128-137, February 2010

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