RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The gap between mental health needs and service use in racial/ethnic minorities continues to be a major public health concern. Focusing on older Korean immigrants, the present study examined linkages among mental distress, self-rated mental health (SRMH), and the use of professional mental health services. We hypothesized that SRMH would play a mediating role in the relationship between mental distress and the use of professional mental health services. METHOD: Using data from the Study of Older Korean Americans (SOKA; N = 2,150, Mean age = 73.4), the direct and indirect effect models were tested. RESULTS: Nearly 30% of the sample fell within the category of experiencing mental distress, but only a small proportion (5.7%) had used professional mental health services. Supporting our hypothesis, the pathway from mental distress to the use of professional mental health services was influenced by an individual's subjective perception of mental health status: the indirect effect of mental distress on service use through SRMH (.04 [.01]) was significant (bias-corrected 95% confidence interval for the indirect effect = .02, .06). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study not only contribute to our understanding of help-seeking processes in a group at high mental health risk but also suggest avenues to promote their use of mental health services.
Assuntos
Emigrantes e Imigrantes , Serviços de Saúde Mental , Idoso , Asiático , Humanos , Saúde Mental , República da CoreiaRESUMO
This study examined socio-demographic and psychological correlates of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Korean Americans (KAs) with traumatic life experiences. A total of 286 KAs were included. Being a woman or having a lower annual household income had positive associations with PTG, while having no religion had a negative association with it. In addition, praying and visiting a mental health professional for coping with stress or for psychological problems was positively associated with PTG. Higher resilience scores increased PTG, while depressive symptoms decreased it. We suggest reinforcing help seeking behaviors and accessibility to care facilities, and gender specific strengthening programs for enhancing PTG among KAs.
Assuntos
Asiático/psicologia , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/psicologia , Adaptação Psicológica , Depressão/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Resiliência Psicológica , Fatores Sexuais , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/diagnósticoRESUMO
This study identifies the associations between socio-demographic characteristics and help seeking behaviors for depressive symptoms among adult Korean Americans (KAs). Using survey data from 230 residents of the New York City, Teaneck, New Jersey, and Philadelphia areas, simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between depressive symptoms and the covariates. Women were at much lower risk of depressive symptoms than were men, even after adjusting other covariates (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.96). Having no health insurance (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.28-12.61) and having experience in seeking professional help for mental health problems during the last year were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.29-6.80). The findings suggest more attention to the risk of depression of KA men and further efforts on understanding the unique contribution of socio-demographic factors and health-related behaviors on depressive symptoms among KAs.
Assuntos
Asiático/psicologia , Depressão/etnologia , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/etnologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estudos Transversais , Depressão/diagnóstico , Depressão/psicologia , Depressão/terapia , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , New Jersey/epidemiologia , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/psicologia , Philadelphia/epidemiologia , República da Coreia/etnologia , Fatores de Risco , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This study adapted Andersen's Health Belief Model to examine the predictors of mental health services utilization among Korean American (KA) immigrants. A cross-sectional survey was used to gather data on 363 KA immigrants 18 years and older residing in New York City. Predisposing factors included gender, age, marital status, education, length of stay in the US, and religion; the need factor was depression; and enabling factors included health insurance, English proficiency, income, and perceived need for help. Approximately 8.5 % of participants reported having utilized mental health services, while 23 % reported having depressive symptoms. Shorter duration of residence in the US, lower income, and the presence of perceived need for help were significantly related to use of mental health services. The perceived need for help mediated the relationship between depression and mental health service utilization. Failure to perceive the need for psychological help continues to be a major reason that KA immigrants do not use mental health services.
Assuntos
Asiático/estatística & dados numéricos , Emigrantes e Imigrantes/estatística & dados numéricos , Serviços de Saúde Mental/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Asiático/psicologia , Estudos Transversais , Escolaridade , Emigrantes e Imigrantes/psicologia , Feminino , Necessidades e Demandas de Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Estado Civil , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , República da Coreia/etnologia , Fatores Sexuais , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Korean immigrants' perception and understanding of mental health and illness were surveyed during four monthly mental health seminars in New York City. In all, 86 Korean immigrants attended the seminars and 34 completed the survey. The seminar participants were primarily financially stable Korean women who were married, educated, and had lived in America more than 10 years. All seminar leaders were Korean immigrants who were working in the mental health field and/or educational setting. Most of the participants acknowledged the need for mental health services but did not seek professional help and coped with the stressors of immigrant life by endurance, patience, and religion. Feedback from seminar leaders noted the following: (a) greater seminar attendance than anticipated, (b) participants' openness to their mental illness issues, (c) need for tailored mental health program for Koreans. Findings support an understanding of the Korean immigrants' mental health issues as complex, chronic, and serious.
Assuntos
Asiático/etnologia , Atitude Frente a Saúde/etnologia , Emigração e Imigração , Transtornos Mentais , Saúde Mental , Saúde da População Urbana , Aculturação , Adaptação Psicológica , Adulto , Diversidade Cultural , Emigração e Imigração/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Necessidades e Demandas de Serviços de Saúde , Humanos , Coreia (Geográfico)/etnologia , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/etnologia , Transtornos Mentais/prevenção & controle , Saúde Mental/estatística & dados numéricos , Serviços de Saúde Mental , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Pesquisa Metodológica em Enfermagem , Satisfação Pessoal , Enfermagem Psiquiátrica , Estereotipagem , Inquéritos e Questionários , Enfermagem Transcultural , Saúde da População Urbana/estatística & dados numéricos , Serviços Urbanos de SaúdeRESUMO
This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of logo-autobiography (LA) as a therapeutic modality for Korean immigrant women suffering from depression and perceiving their lives as meaningless. A nonrandomized quasi-experimental study was conducted with pretest, posttest, and a 4-week follow-up test. Forty subjects--20 with antidepressants and 20 without--were divided quarterly and assigned to the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group reported a significant lower score on depressive symptoms (F = 6.832, p = .013; F = 19.800, p ≤ .001) and a higher score on meaning of life (F = 12.294, p = .001; F = 12.232, p = .001) than did the control group immediately after completing the LA and a 4-week follow-up. The LA was more effective for the subjects in the nonmedication group than in the medication group. In conclusion, LA is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and increasing a sense of meaning in life among Korean immigrant women suffering from depression.