J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2010 Mar;19(1):67-75. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2010.19.1.67.

Depression and the Influencing Factors in Korean American Immigrants

• Bae J
• Park H

• KMID: 2321808
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2010.19.1.67

Abstract

PURPOSE
The objective of this study was to investigate the degree of depression in Korean American immigrants according to their characteristics.
METHODS
This descriptive correlation study conducted visit-surveys with organized questionnaires and sampled 330 Korean American immigrants living in Houston, Seattle and New York areas. SCL-90 was used to measure the degree of depression. Data was analyzed by t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 14.0.
RESULTS
Findings revealed that; 1) the degree of depression in Korean American immigrants according to their characteristics were significantly different in age, occupation, immigration life satisfaction, and health status; 2) Pearson's correlation revealed a significant association among depression, immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life; 3) multi regression analysis showed immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life significantly influenced depression in Korean American immigrants.
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of this study, health professionals should provide proper management of depression as well as its influencing factors, namely, immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life especially for new immigrant populations.

Keyword

Depression; Immigrants; Life stress; Quality of life; Self-esteem

MeSH Terms

Asian Americans*
Depression*
Emigrants and Immigrants*
Emigration and Immigration
Health Occupations
Humans
Occupations
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Self Concept
Statistics as Topic
Stress, Psychological

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