Cultural Differences in Levels of Adolescent Depression in Relation to Experience of Daily Life Activities: A Comparative Study of Korean and American High School Seniors

청소년의 우울증 수준에 있어서 문화적 차이와 일상 생활 활동 경험과의 관계 - 한국과 미국 고등학교 3학년생의 비교 -

The goal of this study was to investigate how daily experiences of schoolwork and leisure activities explained cultural differences in levels of adolescent depression. A combined sample of 58 high school seniors in Korea and 62 high school seniors in the United States reported time use patterns and affect states in daily activities and levels of depression. The time use pattern in daily independent study during class hours and in active leisure activities significantly explained cultural differences in levels of depression. Affect states in all schoolwork activities and passive leisure activities also significantly explained cultural differences in levels of depression. These findings suggest that Korean adolescents' experience of 'exam hell', particularly the lack of active leisure activities and more negative emotional experiences of daily activities are partly responsible for their higher depression relative to American counterparts.