Psychosocial predictors of depressive symptoms in Korean-American women in New York City

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify psychosocial predictors of depressive symptoms among Korean-American immigrant women in New York. A sample of 262 women between the ages of 35 and 55 who had resided in the U.S. for 10 years or less completed a survey instrument including measures of depression, acculturative stress, utilization of social support, self-esteem, and socio-economic status. Depressive symptoms were related positively to acculturative stress and negatively to self-esteem and socio-economic status explained significant proportions of variability in depression. Findings suggest a need to implement policies aimed at mitigating the acculturative stresses associated with immigration.