RESUMEN
This is the first study examining predictors of depression among Arizona's Korean immigrant elders not residing in ethnic enclaves. A snowball sample of 120 elders, aged 64 and over, completed the study interview. The proportion of respondents reporting depression was 38.1%, higher than the incidence reported among counterparts in New York City's immigrant ethnic enclaves. Multiple regression analyses (R2=.44) indicate that English language proficiency had the most powerful effect on explaining depression. Discussion centers on why programs aimed at reducing language barriers among socially isolated immigrant elders need to be a first priority in service provision.
Asunto(s)
Asiático/psicología , Depresión/etnología , Emigrantes e Inmigrantes/psicología , Etnicidad/psicología , Lenguaje , Aculturación , Adaptación Psicológica , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Arizona/epidemiología , Barreras de Comunicación , Femenino , Geriatría , Estado de Salud , Humanos , Corea (Geográfico)/etnología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ciudad de Nueva York/epidemiología , Calidad de Vida , Servicio Social , Factores Socioeconómicos , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
This study examined the association between English language proficiency and health outcomes in a regional probability sample (n = 205) of elderly Chinese and Korean immigrants. Data support that these two Asian ethnic subgroups differ in English proficiency and health-related quality of life. Chinese and Korean elders had poorer health than the national norms, and poor English proficiency was associated with poorer outcomes for six of eight health outcomes measures. Implications for health care delivery and social work are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Barreras de Comunicación , Emigración e Inmigración , Estado de Salud , Calidad de Vida , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , China/etnología , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Entrevistas como Asunto , Corea (Geográfico)/etnología , Masculino , Ciudad de Nueva YorkRESUMEN
The increasing numbers of Asian and other immigrants in the United States have resulted in greater demands for research methodology sensitive to cross-cultural issues. A regional probability sample (n = 407) of Asian elderly immigrants of different nationalities (Chinese, Korean, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, or Japanese) residing in New York City was used to examine the reliability of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Using the 30-item GDS, about 40% of this representative sample of Asian elderly immigrants was considered to be depressed, indicating higher depression rates than in the previous studies of other Asian elderly samples in the US and in Asia. Results also showed that the 30-item GDS and 15-item GDS Short Forms were reliable measures to assess depression in community-dwelling Asian immigrant elders. Data strongly suggest that Asian elderly immigrants in the US are at risk of depression, indicating a need for the design of culturally sensitive mental health programs.