Acculturation and depressive symptoms in Korean immigrant women.
Authors
Choi-J; Miller-A; Wilbur-J
Source
J Immigr Minor Health 2009 Feb; 11(1):13-19
Abstract
Depression is one of the most prevalent health problems for immigrants in the United States (U.S.) and it has been associated with the process of acculturation. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify subgroups of Korean immigrant women based on their Korean as well as American acculturation levels using cluster analysis and to determine whether these subgroups differ on depressive symptoms in 200 Korean immigrant women aged 20-64. Cluster analysis identified four as the most appropriate number of subgroups: they were designated as Korean cluster (45%), Marginalized cluster (26%), American cluster (22%), and Bicultural cluster (7%). Korean cluster had high scores on Korean acculturation and low American acculturation, Marginalized had low for both, American had high scores on American acculturation, low for Korean acculturation, and Bicultural had high scores for both. Women in the Marginalized subgroup reported significantly higher depression scores than women in the American and Korean clusters. It is important to identify immigrants who do not relate to either their heritage culture or the new host culture and address their mental health risk issues.
Keywords
Humans; Men; Women; Children; Psychological-effects; Psychological-factors; Age-groups;
Author Keywords: Acculturation; Cluster analysis; Depression; Korean immigrant women
Contact
JiWon Choi, School of Nursing, University of California at San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, N435A, Box 0606, San Francisco, CA 94143-0606
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
jiwon.choi@nursing.ucsf.edu
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-T42-OH-008672
Source Name
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Performing Organization
University of Illinois-Chicago
