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Self-rated Physical, Mental, Oral, and Cognitive Health in Older Korean Immigrants: The Role of Health Indicators and Sociocultural Factors

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Abstract

Guided by the models of health assessment and social determinants of health, we examined predictors of self-rated physical, mental, oral, and cognitive health of older Korean immigrants. Data came from the Study of Older Korean Americans (SOKA; N = 2,061, Mean age = 73.2). Multivariate regression models of self-ratings of health were tested with health indicators (both domain-specific and other health indicators including chronic disease, functional disability, mental distress, problems with teeth or gums, and cognitive function) and sociocultural factors (acculturation, social network, and ethnic community social cohesion). For self-rated physical, mental, and oral health, indicators specific to the targeted domain played a primary role, with those of other health domains playing a secondary role. Acculturation and social network were significant predictors of all four measures. Findings highlight the importance of holistic health assessment that considers a wide range of health domains as well as sociocultural contexts.

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Acknowledgements

Data collection was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (R01AG047106, PI: Yuri Jang, Ph.D.). The authors thank Drs. Kunsook Bernstein, Soonhee Roh, Soyeon Cho, Sanggon Nam, and Seunghye Hong and community advisors for help with data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, 669 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0411, USA

    Yuri Jang

  2. Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA

    Eun Young Choi

  3. School of Social Work, Portland State University, Portland, USA

    Hyunwoo Yoon

  4. School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Florida, USA

    Nan Sook Park

  5. Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Florida, USA

    David A. Chiriboga

  6. School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA

    Miyong T. Kim

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  1. Yuri Jang
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  5. David A. Chiriboga
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Correspondence to Yuri Jang.

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Jang, Y., Choi, E.Y., Yoon, H. et al. Self-rated Physical, Mental, Oral, and Cognitive Health in Older Korean Immigrants: The Role of Health Indicators and Sociocultural Factors. J Immigrant Minority Health 23, 689–698 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01087-2

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