Analysis of Intervention Studies for Married Immigrant Women

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the intervention studies for married immigrant women. METHODS: Based on inclusion criteria, 45 articles published from 2006 to 2011 were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Among the total amount of studies, 77.8% have been conducted since 2009; and 46.7% of them were for a master's thesis, 11.1% were for a doctoral thesis, and 42.2% were journal articles. Most of them were quantitative research (77.8%) and 71.1% were conducted in urban areas. The most frequently conducted intervention was art therapy (35.6%), whereas 6.7% was health education. In total, 104 outcome indicators were used with 57 (54.8%) in the mental health domain, 29 (27.9%) in the social health domain, and 18 (17.3%) in the physical health domain. The most commonly used outcome indicator was self-esteem (23.2%), and the next, in the order of frequency, included self-efficacy (23.2%), acculturative stress (21.4%), and depression (10.7%). CONCLUSION: Most intervention studies were conducted to support the sociocultural adaptation of married immigrant women, while few intervention studies were conducted to support the health of married immigrant women. To promote the health and quality of life of married immigrant women, many health related intervention programs should be undertaken.