Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Friends, Depressive Symptoms, and Life Satisfaction Among Older Korean Americans

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the interactive effects of social network support and depressive symptoms on life satisfaction among older Korean Americans (KAs). Using data from a sample of 200 elders in a large metropolitan area (M age = 72.50, SD = 5.15), hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the interaction between social network support and depressive symptoms on life satisfaction among older KAs. After controlling for demographic variables, both social network support and depressive symptoms were identified as predictors for life satisfaction. Interaction effects indicated strong associations between higher social network support specifically from friends and lower depressive symptoms with higher levels of life satisfaction. Findings highlight the important role that friends play in terms of social network support for the mental health of older KAs, and the need for geriatric practitioners to monitor and assess the quality of social network support—including friendships—when working with older KAs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Roh S. The impact of religion, spirituality, and social support on depression and life satisfaction among Korean immigrant older adults. Doctoral dissertation. New York: New York University; 2010.

  2. Roh S, Lee YS, Lee JH, Martin JI. Typology of religiosity/spirituality in relation to perceived health, depression, and life satisfaction among older Korean immigrants. Aging Ment Health. 2013;. doi:10.1080/13607863.2013.848837.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sin MK, Chae YR, Choe MA, Murphy P, Kim J, Jeon MY. Perceived health, life satisfaction, and cardiovascular risk factors among elderly Korean immigrant and elderly Koreans. J Gerontol Nurs. 2011;37(3):43–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lee EO. Religion and spirituality as predictors of well-being among Chinese American and Korean American older adults. J Relig Spiritual Aging. 2007;19(3):77–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Yoon DP, Lee EO. Religiousness/spirituality and subjective well-being among rural elderly Whites, African Americans, and Native Americans. J Hum Behav Soc Environ. 2004;10(1):191–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S. The satisfaction with life scale. J Pers Assess. 1985;49(1):71–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Krause N. Church-based social support and health in old age: exploring variations by race. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2002;57(6):S332–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ryu HS, Chang SO, Song JA, Oh Y. Effect of domain-specific life satisfaction on depressive symptoms in late adulthood and old age: results of a cross-sectional descriptive survey. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2013;27(2):101–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Li LW, Liang J. Social exchanges and subjective well-being among older Chinese: does age make a difference? Psychol Aging. 2007;22(2):386–91.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Krause N. Race differences in life satisfaction among aged men and women. J Gerontol. 1993;48(5):S235–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Utsey SO, Payne YA, Jackson ES, Jones AM. Race-related stress, quality of life indicators, and life satisfaction among elderly African Americans. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2002;8(3):224–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Yoon DP. Factors affecting subjective well-being for rural elderly individuals: the importance of spirituality, religiousness, and social support. J Relig Spiritual Soc Work. 2006;25(2):59–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kang SY, Basham R, Kim YJ. Contributing factors of depressive symptoms among elderly Korean immigrants in Texas. J Gerontol Soc Work. 2013;56(1):67–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jang Y, Kim G, Chiriboga DA. Acculturation and manifestation of depressive symptoms among Korean-American older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2005;9(6):500–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Roh S, Lee KH, Yoon DP. General well-being for Korean immigrant elders: the significance of religiousness, spirituality, and social support. J Soc Serv Res. 2013;39(4):483–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Jang Y, Kim G, Hansen L, Chiriboga DA. Attitudes of older Korean Americans toward mental health services. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(4):616–20.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Min JW, Moon A, Lubben JE. Determinants of psychological distress over time among older Korean immigrants and Non-Hispanic White elders: evidence from a two-wave panel study. Aging Ment Health. 2005;9(3):210–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Mui AC. Stress, coping, and depression among elderly Korean immigrants. J Hum Behav Soc Environ. 2001;3(3/4):281–99.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Park SY, Bernstein KS. Depression and Korean American immigrants. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2008;22(1):12–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Sin MK, Choe MA, Kim J, Chae YR, Jeon MY. Depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elderly Korean immigrants and elderly Koreans: cross-cultural comparison. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2010;3(4):262–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Berkman LF, Berkman CS, Kasl S, Freeman DH Jr, Leo L, Ostfeld AM, Cornoni-Huntley J, Brody JA. Depressive symptoms in relation to physical health and functioning in the elderly. Am J Epidemiol. 1986;124(3):372–88.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Blazer DG, Landerman LR, Hays JC, Simonsick EM, Saunders WB. Symptoms of depression among community-dwelling elderly African-American and white older adults. Psychol Med. 1998;28(6):1311–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lee HB, Han HR, Huh BY, Kim KB, Kim MT. Mental health service utilization among Korean elders in Korean churches: preliminary findings from the Memory and Aging Study of Koreans in Maryland (MASK-MD). Aging Ment Health. 2014;18(1):102–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Moon A, Lubben JE, Villa V. Awareness and utilization of community long-term care services by elderly Korean and non-Hispanic White Americans. Gerontologist. 1998;38(3):309–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Koenig HG, King DE, Carson VB. Handbook of religion and health. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Guney S, Kalafat T, Boysan M. Dimensions of mental health; anxiety life satisfaction: a preventive mental health study in Ankara University students. Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2010;2:1210–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pearlin LI, Morton AL, Menaghan EG, Mullan JT. The stress process. J Health Soc Behav. 1981;22:337–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kim BJ, Sangalang CC, Kihl T. Effects of acculturation and social network support on depression among elderly Korean immigrants. Aging Ment Health. 2012;16(6):787–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Jang Y, Chiriboga DA. Living in a different world: acculturative stress among Korean American elders. Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2010;65B(1):14–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Park J, Roh S, Yeo Y. Religiosity, social support, and life satisfaction among elderly Korean immigrants. Gerontologist. 2012;52(5):641–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Antonucci TC, Fiori KL, Birditt K, Jackey LM. Convoys of social relations: integrating life-span and life-course perspectives. In: Freund AF, Lamb ML, Lerner RM, editors. The handbook of life-span development. Hoboken: Wiley; 2010. p. 434–73.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Park NS, Jang Y, Lee BS, Haley WE, Chiriboga DA. The mediating role of loneliness in the relation between social engagement and depressive symptoms among older Korean Americans: do men and women differ? J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2013;68(2):193–201.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Yoo GJ, Kim BW. Remembering sacrifices: attitude and beliefs among second-generation Korean Americans regarding family support. J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2010;25(2):165–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Wong ST, Yoo GJ, Stewart AL. Examining the types of social support and the actual sources of support in older Chinese and Korean immigrants. Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2005;61(2):105–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Pfeiffer E. A Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire for the assessment of organic brain deficit in elderly patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1975;23(10):433–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lubben JE, Gironda MW, Lee A. Refinements to the Lubben Social Network Scale: The LSNS-R. Behav Meas Lett. 2002;7(2):2–11.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Hong M, Casado Lee B, Harrington D. Validation of Korean versions of the Lubben social network scales in Korean Americans. Clin Gerontol. 2011;34(4):319–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, Lum O, Huang V, Adey M, Leirer VO. Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report. J Psychiatr Res. 1982–1983;17(1):37–49.

  39. Mui AC, Kang SY. Acculturation stress and depression among Asian immigrant elders. Soc Work. 2006;51(3):243–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Mui AC. Depression among elderly Chinese immigrants: an exploratory study. Soc Work. 1996;41:633–45.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Shibusawa T, Mui AC. Stress, coping, and depression among Japanese American elders. J Gerontol Soc Work. 2001;36(1/2):63–81.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Kim W, Kim Y. The relationship between subjective well-being and social activity. J Kor Psychol. 1997;3(1):61–81.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS. Using multivariate statistics. 6th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Mertler CA, Vannatta RA. Advanced and multivariate statistical methods: practical application and interpretation. 2nd ed. Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Mui AC, Lee ES. Correlates of depression among Chinese and Korean immigrant elders in the United States. Ageing Int. 2013; 1–15. doi 10.1007/s12126-013-9183-6.

  46. Lee YS, Moon A, Gomez C. Elder mistreatment, culture, and help-seeking: a cross-cultural comparison of older Chinese and Korean immigrants. J Elder Abuse Negl. 2014;. doi:10.1080/08946566.2013.820656.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Jo AM, Maxwell AE, Yang B, Bastani R. Conducting health research in Korean American churches: perspectives from church leaders. J Community Health. 2010;35(2):156–64.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Yoo GJ, Kim BW. Caring across generations: the linked lives of Korean American families. New York: New York University Press; 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Lee MS, Crittenden KS, Yu E. Social support and depression among elderly Korean immigrants in the United States. Int J Aging Hum Dev. 1996;42:313–27.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Kim K, Hurh W, Kim S. Generational differences in Korean immigrants’ life conditions in the United States. Sociol Perspect. 1993;36:257–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Bazargan M, Hamm-Baugh VP. The relationship between chronic illness and depression in a community of urban black elderly persons. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1995;50(2):S119–27.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Sabin EP. Social relationships and mortality among the elderly. J Appl Gerontol. 1993;12(1):44–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Zhang B, Li J. Gender and marital status differences in depressive symptoms among elderly adults: the roles of family support and friend support. Aging Ment Health. 2011;15(7):844–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Lee YM, Holm K. Family relationships and depression among elderly Korean immigrants. ISRN Nurs. 2011. doi: 10.5402/2011/429249.

  55. Kim MT, Han HR, Shin HS, Kim KB, Lee HB. Factors associated with depression experience of immigrant populations: a study of Korean immigrants. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2005;19(5):217–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Wong ST, Yoo GJ, Stewart AL. The changing meaning of family support among older Chinese and Korean immigrants. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006;61(1):S4–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Yoo GJ, Wood S. Challenges and opportunities for improving health in the Korean American community. In: Yoo GJ, Le MN, Oda AY, editors. Handbook of Asian American health. p. 73–85. New York: Springer; 2013.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, University of South Dakota, 1400 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA

    Soonhee Roh

  2. School of Social Work, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA

    Yeon-Shim Lee

  3. School of Social Work, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount Street, Wichita, KS, 67260-0154, USA

    Kyoung Hag Lee

  4. Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square N, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Tazuko Shibusawa

  5. Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA

    Grace J. Yoo

Authors
  1. Soonhee Roh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yeon-Shim Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kyoung Hag Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tazuko Shibusawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Grace J. Yoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soonhee Roh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Roh, S., Lee, YS., Lee, K.H. et al. Friends, Depressive Symptoms, and Life Satisfaction Among Older Korean Americans. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 1091–1097 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0021-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0021-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation