Ethnic identity, role integration, quality of life, and depression in Korean-American women

Abstract

Little is known about how living between two cultures affects the mental health of immigrant women. This study examined the relationships between ethnic identity, role integration, quality of life, and depression in 76 Korean-American women. Quality of life was positively associated with role integration (r = .68, p < .01). Role integration and quality of life were negatively and significantly associated with depression (r = -.59 and r = -.72, p < .01, respectively). An exploratory path analysis was performed to examine the relationships between demographics and conceptual variables. Only quality of life and length of residence in the United States were strongly associated with depression. Findings have implications for psychiatric nursing practice.