Kim MT, Kim KB, Han HR, Huh B, Nguyen T, Lee HB. Prevalence and Predictors of Depression in Korean American Elderly: Findings from the Memory and Aging Study of Koreans (MASK).
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2015;
23:671-83. [PMID:
25554484 PMCID:
PMC4442756 DOI:
10.1016/j.jagp.2014.11.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Revised: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To estimate the prevalence and identify the predictors of depression among community-dwelling Korean American elderly (KAE).
DESIGN
A cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological survey using a two-step sampling strategy to obtain a representative community sample.
SETTING
The authors recruited study participants at religious, service, and business establishments in the KA community (26 churches, 6 senior centers, 2 medical daycare centers, 1 supermarket).
PARTICIPANTS
Community-dwelling first-generation KAE (N = 1,118; mean age ± SD: 70.5 ± 7.0 years; female: 67.2%).
MEASUREMENTS
Trained bilingual nurses and community health workers interviewed participants face-to-face for demographic information, chronic conditions, and depression using the Korean versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9K).
RESULTS
30.3% of KAEs were classified as having either mild (PHQ-9K score 5-9; N = 218, 19.5%) or clinical depression (PHQ-9K score ≥10; N = 120, 10.8%), respectively. One of seven KAE (N = 164, 14.7%) endorsed thoughts of death or self-injury, but only 63 (5.7%) reported utilizing mental health services. The authors also identified several predictors of depression, including living arrangement (living alone versus living with family/spouse); having chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, digestive disorders, or chronic bronchitis; years of education; and cognitive impairment.
CONCLUSIONS
The authors' findings reveal a high prevalence of depression among KAE and a low level of mental health service utilization. Because there are urgent needs for culturally and contextually relevant interventions, the authors also discuss the feasibility of community-based interventions to reduce the burden of depression, which should be incorporated into a management system for multiple chronic conditions.
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