 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Gina Pistulka, RN, MPH, Hae-Ra Han, RN, PhD, Hyun Jeong Park, RN, MSN, Hwayun Lee, RN, BSN, and Miyong Kim, RN, PhD. The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-2669, hhan@son.jhmi.edu
Today's Korean American elderly (KAE) are predominantly first-generation immigrants who face stern challenges of acculturation. While adjusting to the mainstream society, they often experience a loss of self-confidence and increased social isolation due to language and cultural barriers. Researchers have found a significant link between acculturation stress and negative mental health status (specifically depression) among immigrants. Using cross-sectional data on 205 KAE who participated in a health status assessment study in 1999, we examined the relationships among acculturation stress, social support, and depression. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 75 males and 130 females, aged 60 to 89 years old (Mean=69.9 ± 6.5 years) who resided in the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan area. The average number of years in the U.S. was 15.9 (± 6.6) years for this sample. Depression was measured by the Kim Depression Scale for Korean Americans, which encapsulates the four domains of depression as manifested by Korean Americans: affective, behavioral, cognitive, and somatic. Multivariate analysis revealed that acculturation stress (b=0.33, p<0.001) and social support (b=-0.20, p=0.002) were statistically significant predictors of depression in the KAE (R2=0.162): higher levels of depression were associated with higher levels of acculturation stress and lower levels of social support. Consistent with previous literature, the findings indicate that social support may act as a buffer between acculturation stress and depression among KAE. Future interventions for KAE should address their cultural/social needs by reinforcing their social support network to prevent social isolation and depression.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.