Pessimism, trauma, risky sex: covariates of depression in college students.

OBJECTIVE: To explain variance in depression in students (N = 648) using a model incorporating sexual trauma, pessimism, and risky sex. METHOD: Survey data collected from undergraduate students receiving credit for participation. RESULTS: Controlling for demographics, a hierarchical linear regression analysis [Adjusted R(2) = .34, F(5,642) = 67.38, P<.001] suggests that higher pessimism (t = 16.05, P < .001), more sexual trauma (t = 3.76, P<.001), and more risky sex (t = 3.40, P<.001) were associated with increased depression. Not being in a relationship (t = 3.54, P<.001) and being unemployed (t = 3.10, P<.01) also predicted more depression in students. CONCLUSIONS: Results identify key access points for the treatment of depression in students.

A model for understanding sexual health among Asian American/Pacific Islander men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States.

The model to understand sexual health among Asian American/Pacific Islander men who have sex with men first locates the dynamic process in the home country, with its prevailing cultural norms including sexual mores, shame or stigma, sexual attitudes, sexual behavior, and drug use/abuse. Second, these cultural norms are modified by the migration/immigration experience. Third, these norms, beliefs, and practices are continually influenced by the process of acculturation as these men try to adjust to life in the United States. The effects of the first two domains may vary by the degree to which a particular immigrant community remains socially and culturally insulated from the mainstream community. Conceivably, the effect of home country and migration/immigration would be less significant for those who were either very young at the time of immigration or are born in the United States.