Journal of Student Research 2014

Adolescent Hmong Marriage & Risk of Depression

Hmong to fend for themselves and face persecution alone by the Lao government. Many fled to Thailand for safety by crossing the Mekong River. Nevertheless, in 1976 the U.S. Congress recognized Hmong as former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employees and authorized immigration to the U.S. (Hein, 2006; Lynch 2004). According to the American Community Survey, in 2010 the Census Bureau estimated 247,595 Hmong people living in the United States, and approximately 49,240 Hmong in Wisconsin (Hoeffel, Rastogi, Kim, & Shahid, 2011). Hmong culture supports marrying before age 18. The tradition is valued and has been promoted among those residing in the US. Traditionally, Hmong marriages may happen in numerous ways such as, elopement or mutual consent, arranged marriage, and bride capture (without the bride’s consent). If the bride changes her mind and does not want to follow through with the wedding she may bring shame to her family and be ridiculed by the community (Vang & Bogenschutz, 2011). The potential for shame and ridicule pressures the girl to stay in the marriage (Gangoli et. al, 2009; Vang & Bogenschutz, 2011). In addition, sexual purity and chastity is highly encouraged; premarital pregnancy can bring great shame to the family name. Therefore, if a teenage daughter gets pregnant before marriage the parents will use forced marriage as a way to atone her shameful actions (Alvi et. al, 2005; Gangoli et. al, 2009; Vang & Bogenschutz, 2011). Consequences and predictors of depression in teen marriages: Studies show there is a common trend of consequences for getting married at a young age regardless of ethnicity or background. Some consequences are lower education, lower socioeconomic status with lower paying jobs, more symptomatology of depression, and higher risk for domestic abuse (Bartz & Nye, 1970; Culp & Beach, 1998; Gangoli et. al, 2008, Vang & Bogenschutz, 2011; Whitton et. al, 2007). According to Vang and Bogenschutz (2011), “45.4% of Hmong women are married, 37.9% have never been married, and lesser percentage are widowed, divorced, or separated (7).” Women who marry young are likely to drop out of high school, achieve less college attendance, and experience more poverty than young women who did not marry. Social class placement, such as socioeconomic status, is a

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