Correlates of Sense of Control among Older Korean-American Immigrants: Financial Status, Physical Health Constraints, and Environmental Challenges

Responding to the need for more research on minority older populations, the present study assessed sense of control among older Korean-American immigrants. The association of sense of control with financial status, physical health constraints, and environmental challenges was examined with a sample of 230 older Korean-Americans (Mage = 69.8, range = 60–92) in Florida. In a hierarchical regression analysis, financial limitations (poorer perceived financial status and receipt of financial support from adult children), physical health constraints (greater functional disability), and environmental challenges (lower acculturation and greater difficulty with transportation) were identified as significant risk factors for a diminished sense of control. Findings are discussed in a cultural context, and ways to promote sense of control among immigrant older populations are suggested.

Determinants of a sense of mastery in Korean American elders: a longitudinal assessment

OBJECTIVES

Given the importance of sense of mastery for physical and psychological well-being in later life, this study examined the predictors of a sense of mastery among Korean American elders.

METHOD

The sample included 141 community-dwelling Korean Americans aged 60 and older (M age = 68.5, SD = 6.40), who provided data in both 2003 and 2005. The model predicting sense of mastery at time 2 was estimated with sets of predictors that included (a) baseline sense of mastery, (b) other baseline characteristics (age, gender, education, length of stay in the United States, and baseline chronic conditions and functional disability), (c) non-health-related change (widowhood, decline in financial status and increased difficulty with transportation), (d) health-related change (increase in chronic conditions and increase in functional disability) and (e) an interaction term (increase in chronic conditions x increase in functional disability).

RESULTS

After adjusting for baseline mastery, we found that baseline functional disability, decline in financial status and increased functional disability posed a significant threat to subsequent levels of mastery. Additionally, the interaction between increase in chronic conditions and increase in functional disability was significant: individuals who experienced increases in both chronic conditions and functional disability were at particular risk of a diminished sense of mastery.

CONCLUSION

Findings underscore the need for intervention efforts to preserve and promote a sense of mastery among older adults facing health decline.

Social relationships and depressive symptoms among older adults in southern Brazil

OBJECTIVES

This research tests hypotheses from equity theory and social integration theory regarding the effect of social relationships on depressive symptoms.

METHODS

The data are based on a representative sample of people aged 60 and older from southern Brazil. The baseline sample consists of 871 subjects interviewed in 1995. Among those baseline subjects, 551 responded in 1999. Cross-sectional and longitudinal multivariate regression models estimate the effect of two dimensions of social relationships (i.e., social exchanges and social integration) on depressive symptoms, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics.

RESULTS

The results indicate that unbalanced exchange increases depressive symptoms, and social integration decreases depressive symptoms. Specifically, older Brazilians who overbenefit or underbenefit from exchanges with relatives have more depressive symptoms than those with balanced exchanges. In addition, depressive symptoms are lower when an older adult who is receiving support is able to reciprocate. More intensive exchanges with relatives, being married, and satisfaction with family relationships decrease depressive symptoms, whereas living alone increases depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION

The results highlight the relevance of social relationships to depressive symptoms among older Brazilians. In addition, the results indicate there is a nonlinear relationship between exchange balance and depressive symptoms in this population. The implications for policy are discussed.

Determinants of a sense of mastery in African American and White older adults

OBJECTIVES

This study compares determinants of a sense of mastery in African American and White older adults.

METHODS

The association between predictor variables (sociodemographic variables, health conditions, social resources, and religiosity) and feelings of mastery was assessed by using representative community-dwelling samples of 250 African American (mean age = 71.6) and 452 White (mean age = 73.0) older adults.

RESULTS

African American older adults had a lower sense of mastery than White older adults. Significant modification by race was found in the associations of age, self-rated health, and religiosity with feelings of mastery. The negative effects of old age and poor health on feelings of mastery were stronger in the White sample, whereas the positive effect of religiosity on feelings of mastery was observed only in the African American sample.

DISCUSSION

Although African American older adults had a lower sense of mastery than Whites, their feelings of mastery were less likely to be diminished by old age and poor health and more likely to be enhanced by religiosity. Possible explanations for cross-racial differences are discussed, as are implications.

Cross-cultural comparability of the Geriatric Depression Scale: comparison between older Koreans and older Americans

It is becoming increasingly clear that, in order to better understand the implications of global aging, more cross-cultural research is needed. In the present study, the structure and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF) was examined in Korean and US samples of older adults. The participants included 153 older adults living in Korea (mean age=65.9 years) and 459 older adults from Florida (mean age=72.4 years). All participants completed the original or translated versions of the GDS-SF, as well as additional demographic and health-related measures. The results indicated that the GDS-SF exhibited good reliability in both samples. However, the results of a principal components analysis indicated that the structure was not well replicated across the two samples. In general, the present study suggests that, despite great efforts to make the questionnaires equivalent in the two cultures, the concept of depression for older adults may vary greatly in Korea and the USA. Possible explanations for cross-cultural differences are discussed, as well as implications.