Self-other agreement on affective distress scales in Asian Americans and White Americans

The present study examined the degree of agreement between self-rated and peer-rated depression and social anxiety in White American and Asian American college students. A total of 160 Asian American and 177 White American target participants completed self-report measures of depression and social anxiety, and 1 peer informant completed the ratings for each target on the same measures. Results indicated that Asian American targets' levels of self-reported social anxiety and depression were underestimated by their peer informants to a greater extent than those of White American targets. The self-other discrepancy of distress was greatest for Asian American targets rated by White American informants. Degree of acquaintanceship and level of emotional expressivity did not moderate these findings.