Asian Nurs Res.  2015 Jun;9(2):125-131. 10.1016/j.anr.2015.01.003.

Effects of Health Status and Health Behaviors on Depression Among Married Female Immigrants in South Korea

• Kim JA
• Yang SJ
• Chee YK
• Kwon KJ
• An J

• KMID: 2387612
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2015.01.003

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study examined the effects of health status and health behaviors on depression in married female immigrants in South Korea.
METHODS
Sampling 316 immigrant women from the Philippines, Vietnam, China, and other Asian countries, a cross-sectional research design was used with self-report questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, health status, health behaviors, and depression.
RESULTS
There were significant differences in stillbirth experience, induced abortion, morbidity, perceived health status, meal skipping, and physical activity between depressed and nondepressed immigrant women. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, stillbirth experience, poorer perceived health status, more meal skipping, and less physical activity were associated with greater depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
Both health status and health behaviors had significant impacts on depression, suggesting that development of nursing interventions and educational programs should be targeted towards improving maternal health, healthy lifestyle, and subjective health perception to promote married female immigrants' psychological well-being.

Keyword

depression; emigrants and immigrants; health behavior; health status; women

MeSH Terms

Adult
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder/*epidemiology
Emigrants and Immigrants/statistics & numerical data
Female
*Health Behavior
*Health Status
Humans
Logistic Models
*Marriage
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Rural Health
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Urban Health
Young Adult