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Stressors, Social Support, Religious Practice, and General Well-Being among Korean Adult Immigrants
Abstract
Through this cross-sectional study the authors explore how stressors, social support, and religious practice are associated with the general well-being of 147 Korean adult immigrants through interviews. Hierarchical regression analysis reveals that low English proficiency and financial hardship are significantly related to low general well-being. However, high social support and religious practice are significantly associated with high general well-being. Social service and health care providers need to carefully assess stressors, social support systems, and spiritual issues for providing appropriate services/programs for English, culture, or social activities as well as spiritual intervention to maximize the strengths of Korean immigrants coping with health issues.
... This finding is similar to previous studies suggesting that caregivers who have social networks or receive social support are less likely to have depressive symptoms (Casale et al., 2014;Sabella, 2012). A previous study (Lee & Woo, 2013) demonstrated that older adults with close friends had lower depressive symptoms than those with the sole support of family members. Our findings provide unique information on older caregivers of PLWHA in Namibia. ...
... The finding of this study is aligned with previous studies indicating that religiosity/spirituality is an important determinant of depressive symptoms for older African caregivers (Poindexter & Linsk, 1999). Older caregivers may experience lower levels of depressive symptoms by regulating their emotions through spiritual coping and/or by sharing their caregiving experiences with others through religious support activities (Lee & Woo, 2013). Mui and Kang (2006) contended that older caregivers' beliefs and religious practice may provide them with strength, a sense of meaning, and purpose. ...
... Moreover, additional neighbor and/or friend relationships might be beneficial, as this study found that social support can protect against depressive symptoms. When integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan for the mental well-being of older caregivers, group therapy can enhance the relationships between caregivers and their neighbors and friends (Lee & Woo, 2013). Therefore, practicing beliefs and intrinsic religiosity may play an important role in regulating mental health among older caregivers when it comes to coping with caregiving demands for people affected by HIV and AIDS. ...
The study of older caregiving is emerging as an important area of research in HIV endemic communities. This study explored the role of social support/network and religiosity in predicting depressive symptoms among older caregivers (N = 100) from the Omusati region in rural Namibia, Africa. Hierarchical multivariate regression results showed that higher levels of social support/network and intrinsic religiosity were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. This study suggests the need for mental health professionals in Namibia to invest in and employ evidence-based social support and religious coping interventions for older caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS.
... Among the most important sources of acculturative stress for Asian immigrants include limited English language proficiency (K. H. Lee & Woo, 2013), racial discrimination, and cultural dissonance between Asian heritage and American dominant culture (Lueck & Wilson, 2010). Additionally, immigrantstatus-related stress, such as insecure immigration status and limitations on work opportunities, can put Asian immigrants at even greater risk for mental health distress (Dow, 2011). ...
... For example, programs focused on multilingual support services and legal advocacy can be provided within different community contexts, such as religious organizations (K. H. Lee & Woo, 2013) and coethnic communities, to benefit immigrant individuals. As such, integrating interventions into a comprehensive support framework can help individuals navigate the challenges of acculturation, enhance social support networks, and promote overall well-being within Asian immigrant communities. ...
Asian immigrants experience acculturative stress during the migration and resettlement process in the United States and suffer from various mental health problems. Although extant research has identified the protective role of social support in the Asian American mental well-being, the mediation role of multiple source systems of support in the association between different acculturative stress (i.e., racial discrimination, legal status, language barrier) and self-rated mental health is not well established among foreign-born Asian immigrants. Using the counteractive model and the deterioration model as theoretical frameworks, this study aimed to examine the association between acculturative stress and poor self-rated mental health and the mediation effects of social support on this relationship. Data for this study were derived from the National Latino and Asian American Study, a cross-sectional survey of Asian immigrants living in the United States. The present study used 1,638 foreign-born Asian immigrant adults (Mage = 42.5 years). Fifty-three percent of participants were female and about 63% had lived longer than 11 years in the United States. A path analytic model was used to examine the association between acculturative stress and poor self-rated mental health and the mediation effects of social support on this relationship. Results indicated that higher acculturative stress related to racial discrimination stress and language barrier was associated with increased level of poor self-rated mental health. Acculturative stress related to legal status and language barriers were associated with social support but in opposite directions, with legal status being positively associated with social support but language barriers being negatively associated. Family support and friend support mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and poor self-rated mental health.: These findings highlight the importance of social support among Asian immigrants while taking account of their unique acculturation process and impacts of acculturative stress.
... Contemporary studies by Korean, Japanese, and Chinese scholars with native and/or immigrant older adult samples have described a strong, shared cultural emphasis on filial piety. Despite their unique local traits, East Asian cultures share a cultural and historical value of filial piety (i.e., the traditional social support role of the oldest son and daughter-in-law), and the importance of adult children as primary supporters for elders' mental health and wellbeing (Hwang & Wood, 2009;Jeon, Jang, Kim, & Cho, 2013;Lee & Jin, 2013;Lee & Woo, 2013;Lee & Yoon, 2011;Mao & Chi, 2011;Park & Roh, 2013). For example, in a nationally representative sample of older adults in China (N = 19,415, age = 60+), Mao and Chi (2011) found that receiving financial and instrumental support from their adult children and coresiding with married children had a positive effect on the parents' perception of their children's filial piety, even after controlling for the parents' sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, such as gender, residential area (rural or urban), marital status, age, economic security, education, and selfrated health. ...
... In addition, a nationally representative study of elders in Korea (N = 4,422, age = 60+) revealed that coresiding with married children was significantly related with fewer depressive symptoms in widows, whereas better relationships with children ameliorated depressive symptoms in widowers (Jeon et al., 2013). Moreover, a number of Korean scholars have found that having adult children living with their older parents or nearby might function as a stress buffer, reducing the effects of stressful life events on depressive symptoms among Korean elderly immigrants in the United States (Hwang & Wood, 2009;Lee & Jin, 2013;Lee & Woo, 2013;Lee & Yoon, 2011;Park & Roh, 2013). ...
With declining adherence to filial piety in East Asian cultures, the closeness of adult daughters rather than sons may become more important for older Asian immigrants’ well-being. With a sample of 177 older Korean immigrants to the United States (age 60+, M = 72, SD = 7.7), we examined how and to what extent having daughters living nearby rather than sons (daughters-in-law) is related to older Asian immigrants’ mental health, moderating the direct relationship between stressful life events and depressive symptoms. The analyses showed physical proximity of daughters rather than sons (daughters-in-law) functioned as a stress buffer by reducing the direct relation between stressful life events and older immigrants’ depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that gendered cultural expectations of adult children’s caregiving roles for older Korean immigrants are changing, implying that companionship and the perceived quality of instrumental and emotional support might take priority over traditional gendered expectations of filial piety.
... Family separation due to migration can put people, especially children, at risk of victimization (Perreira and Ornelas 2013). The process of resettlement in a reception country or of moving across multiple countries can generate new instances of discrimination, abuse, and insecurity (Caplan 2007;Jasso 2011;Lee and Woo 2013;Singh et al. 2015). ...
Stressful life experiences may have health implications, and are common among migrant populations. With the only U.S. nationally representative dataset on migration, the New Immigrant Survey, we used survey-adjusted descriptive and multivariate regression methods to examine whether victimization prior to resettlement is associated with cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, chronic lung disease, and cancer. Among foreign-born people who obtained lawful permanent residence in the U.S. in 2003-04, 6.7% reported victimization before arriving in the U.S. Those who experienced victimization before entering the U.S. more often suffered from chronic conditions than people without experiences of victimization: they were 32% more likely to suffer from at least one chronic condition (OR:1.32,p<0.05), especially cardiovascular disease (1.32 p<0.05), arthritis (1.77,p<0.01) and cancer (4.36,p<0.05). These relationships are in part mediated by differences in English fluency between those who had and had not experienced victimization. Thus, victimization may have consequences for integration and for chronic disease later in life.
... In a sample of Chinese American and Korean American older adults, religious coping and support were associated with increased life satisfaction and decreased depressive symptoms [33]. In a sample of Korean adult immigrants, religious support was associated with higher well-being in the midst of experiencing financial hardship and difficulties with English [34]. Interviews with Filipino American individuals regarding their faith revealed that their experiences with religion and spirituality had both positive and negative effects on their well-being [35], although recent research has proposed that the negative effects of religion may be explained by scrupulosity in communities in which religious participation plays a large role in culture [26]. ...
Background
Research is needed on how faith and prayer apps fit within the values of racial and ethnic minority (REM) groups, as well as whether such apps are effective in promoting mental health and well-being.
Objective
This study aims to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of using the mobile app Pray.com on mental health and well-being among REM participants.
Methods
This study was a single-group (N=77), 4-week feasibility trial in REM groups (65/77, 84% Black or African American). Participants were asked to use the Pray.com app at no cost for at least 5 times per week for 5 minutes per day. Participants completed questionnaires at the baseline and postintervention time points. Feasibility questionnaires were only completed at the postintervention time point, including qualitative interviews (n=15). The feasibility questions included acceptability (ie, satisfaction, intent to continue use, perceived appropriateness, and fit within culture), demand (ie, self-reported app use, expressed interest, and perceived demand), and practicality (ie, ease or difficulty of use, ability to use the app, and cost-effectiveness). Frequency and descriptive statistics were used to analyze feasibility outcomes. Changes in dependent variables were analyzed using paired-sample 2-tailed t tests. Partial correlations were conducted to explore the association between app use and outcomes, controlling for baseline scores.
Results
Participants reported (54/72, 75% responded with “very likely” or “likely” to the feasibility questions) that they perceived the Pray.com app as acceptable. These findings were supported by qualitative interviews (n=15). Most participants (62/72, 86%) did not meet the app use prescription but expressed interest in using the app in the future and perceived demand for it in their communities. In addition, participants reported that the app was easy to use and perceived it to be inexpensive (US $7.99). Participants reported improved mental health (ie, stress and depressive and anxiety symptoms) and well-being (ie, satisfaction with life, spiritual well-being, religious commitment, and racial or ethnic identity development) at postintervention despite relatively low average levels and high variability of app use (average total of 45.83, SD 111.90 min over the course of the study). Greater app use was significantly associated with improvements in mental health and spiritual well-being. However, app use and study methodology limitations suggest that the study results may not accurately capture the full impact of Pray.com use.
Conclusions
This is the first study to assess the feasibility of a faith and prayer app for mental health and well-being in a sample of REM individuals. Our findings suggest that the use of a faith and prayer app (ie, Pray.com) could be feasible and significantly impactful for the improvement of mental health symptoms and well-being in REM individuals and their communities, especially Black and African American individuals with a Christian affiliation. Further research is warranted.
... Corresponding Author: Elena E. Dementeva Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of the conference eISSN: 2357-1330 recipient countries. Korean-Americans live in the USA for a long period of time (Lee, & Woo, 2013). ...
... Indeed, this is where contemplative practices come in. Common concepts of health care and health promotion, of resilience and hardiness, as well as stress reduction in principle are based on contemplative, meditative or mindfulness practices [12,16,17,[124][125][126]. Depending on what program is utilized, social connectedness remains a central element, as well as the question of motivation and belief, or membership in a religious community [90,[127][128][129]. ...
Happiness is a feeling, an immediate experience, not a cognitive construct. It is based on activity in the brain’s neurobiological reward and motivation systems, which have been retained in evolution.
https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/24683 (accessed on 30 June 2022)
... Indeed, this is where contemplative practices come in. Common concepts of health care and health promotion, of resilience and hardiness, as well as stress reduction in principle are based on contemplative, meditative or mindfulness practices [12,16,17,[124][125][126]. Depending on what program is utilized, social connectedness remains a central element, as well as the question of motivation and belief, or membership in a religious community [90,[127][128][129]. ...
Background:
Happiness is a feeling, an immediate experience, not a cognitive construct. It is based on activity in the brain's neurobiological reward and motivation systems, which have been retained in evolution. This conceptual review provides an overview of the basic neurobiological principles behind happiness phenomena and proposes a framework for further classification.
Results:
Three neurobiologically distinct types of happiness exist: (A) wanting, (B) avoiding, and (C) non-wanting. Behind these types lies a dynamic gradation, ranging from the more youthful anticipation, pleasure and ecstasy (A), to stress processing, escape and relief (B) as we find them accentuated in the middle-aged, to deep satisfaction, quiescence and inner joy (C), which is particularly attributed to older people. As a result, the development of happiness and satisfaction over the course of life typically takes the form of a U-curve.
Discussion:
The outlined triad and dynamic of happiness leads to the paradoxical finding that the elderly seem to be the happiest-a phenomenon that is termed "satisfaction paradox". This assumed change in happiness and contentment over the life span, which includes an increasing "emancipation" from the idea of good health as a mandatory prerequisite for happiness and contentment, can itself be changed-it is trainable.
Conclusions:
Programs for mindfulness, contemplation, or stress reduction, including positive psychology and mind-body/behavioral medicine training, seem to be capable of influencing the course happiness over time: Happiness can be shaped through practice.
... For various reasons, this process seems to be especially stressful for Korean (im)migrants (Hurh & Kim, 1990;Kuo, 1984;Noh & Avison, 1992). Lee and Woo (2013) found that Korean (im)migrants' general well-being was affected by socio-economic stressors, lack of English proficiency, and financial hardship. ...
Pratt’s (1991) notion of “contact zone” was used to investigate the lives of four Korean (im)migrant mothers in the United States, where they encountered clashes of languages and cultures. This study, part of five-year feminist cyber-ethnography, is an examination of their contact zone experiences from the perspective of the intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989) of their multiple identities, which were complicated and added layers to the contact zones usually presumed to be experienced by (im)migrant adults when regarded a single category despite great diversity of their pre-migration capital (Bourdieu, 1991). The participants’ identity as mothers exacerbated confrontations in some contact zones, and their intertwined identities as highly-educated and motivated Korean women and wives situated them in both outside- within-ethnic contact zones.
... Chinese and Korean cultures share Confucian-based values of interdependence (Cheah et al., 2016), which are depicted to be at odds with the more independent-focused culture of the United States. The differences may present greater risks for acculturative stress and poorer adjustment among CIMs and KIMs (Lee & Woo, 2013). However, despite the cultural similarities and the treatment of East Asian Americans as a homogeneous group in past research, variations across East Asian ethnic subgroups have been found (Chae & Foley, 2010). ...
Objectives: The present research used a person-centered approach to examine the acculturation styles of Chinese and Korean immigrant mothers in the United States and demographic characteristics and psychological functioning associated with each acculturation style. Method: The sample comprised 240 first-generation Chinese immigrant mothers (CIMs; M = 37.80 years, SD = 4.55) and 222 first-generation Korean immigrant mothers (KIMs; M = 36.00 years, SD = 3.69) of preschool children. Latent profile analysis was used to identify latent acculturation styles among CIMs and KIMs. We further examined whether mothers’ acculturation styles were associated with their sociodemographic characteristics and psychological functioning within each cultural group. Results: Four acculturation styles were revealed among CIMs: (a) behaviorally undifferentiated/psychologically assimilated, (b) behaviorally marginalized/psychologically separated, (c) behaviorally psychologically assimilated, and (d) behaviorally integrated/psychologically undifferentiated. Three acculturation styles were uncovered among KIMs: behaviorally psychologically separated, behaviorally psychologically assimilated, and behaviorally psychologically integrated. Chinese behaviorally integrated/psychologically undifferentiated mothers and Korean behaviorally psychologically separated perceived the highest levels of coethnic concentration in their communities. Chinese behaviorally marginalized/psychologically separated mothers reported poorer psychological functioning than other Chinese mothers. Korean behaviorally psychologically separated mothers had poorer psychological functioning than other Korean mothers. Conclusions: Findings revealed the significant role of participation in the American mainstream culture for Asian immigrant mothers’ psychological adjustment. The heterogeneity in the acculturation experiences of Asian immigrants in the United States was highlighted.
... titudes of the follower to organize her/his thoughts and actions around reaching the goals of such religion. Therefore, religion, in fact, maintains and regulates commitment behaviors of its followers in everyday life and assists them to reach a calm and peaceful state of mind which results in enhancement of mental health (Bradshaw & Ellison, 2010;K. H. Lee & Woo, 2013). ...
... Thus, participating in religious activities provides opportunities to build strong social networks, thereby, enhancing a sense of community. Lee and Woo (2013) noted that attending religious services provides opportunities for networking thereby helping individuals develop a strong social support system. Socially oriented behaviors and a sense of being a part of a meaningful social context (''sense of community'' in the case of the present research) enhance social well-being and also go on to reinforce further social participation (Berkman et al. 2000). ...
The study examined the impact of frequency of ritual participation on sense of community and social well-being of a minority community in India, the Sikhs. We looked at a unique ritualistic practice of the Sikhs, seva. Rituals are known to contribute toward social solidarity and cohesion as well as physical and mental well-being. In particular for a minority community, rituals help group members establish and maintain strong community networks and a unique group identity. A total of 156 members of the Sikh community (85 males; 71 females) participated in the study. Frequency of ritual participation was positively related with social well-being and sense of community. Furthermore, sense of community was found to mediate the effect of frequency of ritual participation on social well-being. Results are discussed in the light of the importance of studying rituals in minority groups, the frequency of participation in a ritual activity and the importance of addressing social well-being in ritual research.
... Following the 1998 financial crisis in Korea, there was a peak in suicide mortality (Khang et al. 2005;Chang et al. 2009); our data demonstrate an increase in suicide mortality in 2009 following the 2008 global economic crisis. In Korea, financial problems were frequently the precipitating event to suicide for men (Im et al. 2011), and in the USA, financial hardship has a significant correlation with perceived well-being and vitality for Korean American immigrants as well (Lee & Woo, 2013). It is possible that a disproportionate portion of suicide deaths among Koreans and Korean Americans documented in our study occurred among individuals experiencing economic hardship, but we were unable to ascertain this with our study variables. ...
Aims
Korea has the highest suicide rate of developed countries, two times higher than the USA. Suicide trends among Koreans Americans living in the USA during the same period have not yet been described. We report suicide mortality rates and trends for four groups: (1) Korean Americans, (2) non-Hispanic White (NHW) Americans, (3) selected Asian American subgroups and (4) Koreans living in the Republic of Korea.
Methods
We used US national ( n = 18 113 585) and World Health Organization (WHO) ( n = 232 919 253) mortality records for Korea from 2003 to 2012 to calculate suicide rates, all expressed per 100 000 persons. We assessed temporal trends and differences in age, gender and race/ethnicity using binomial regression.
Results
Suicide rates are highest in Koreans living in the Republic of Korea (32.4 for men and 14.8 for women). Suicide rates in Korean Americans (13.9 for men and 6.5 for women) have nearly doubled from 2003 to 2012 and exceed rates for all other Asian American subgroups (5.4–10.7 for men and 1.6–4.2 for women). Suicide rates among NHWs (21.0 for men and 5.6 for women) remain high. Among elders, suicide in Korean Americans (32.9 for men and 15.4 for women) is the highest of all examined racial/ethnic groups in the USA.
Conclusions
Suicide in Korean Americans is higher than for other Asian Americans and follows temporal patterns more similar to Korea than the USA. Interventions to prevent suicide in Korean American populations, particularly among the elderly, are needed.
... According to the model, stress precipitates a need to activate coping mechanisms—the cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific external and internal demands. Coping resources usually include a wide range of physical, psychological, spiritual, and social supports (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Lee & Woo, 2013; Mui, 2001; Mui & Burnette, 1994). In studies of older adults, decline in physical health has been widely recognized as being among the most common sources of stress, and a contributor to depressive symptoms (Jang, Borenstein, Chiriboga, & Mortimer, 2005; Moussavi et al., 2007). ...
The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of physical health stressors and coping resources with depressive symptoms among American Indian older adults age 50 years or older. The study used a convenience sample of 227 rural American Indian older adults. A hierarchical multiple regression tested three sets of predictors on depressive symptoms: (a) sociodemographics, (b) physical health stressors (functional disability and chronic medical conditions), and (c) coping resources (social support and spirituality). Most participants reported little difficulty in performing daily activities (e.g., eating, dressing, traveling, and managing money), while presenting over two types of chronic medical conditions. Depressive symptoms were predicted by higher scores on perceived social support and lower scores on functional disability; women and those having no health insurance also had higher levels of depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that social work practitioners should engage family and community support, advocate for access to adequate health care, and attend to women's unique circumstances and needs when working with American Indian older adults.
... This instrument consists of 12 items (e.g., "there is a special person that is around when I am in need") and a 4-point response format that ranged from (1) strongly disagree to (4) strongly agree. The scale has been used in several studies to measure global social support among various older adult populations, including those in rural areas, immigrant older adults, and residents in assisted living facilities (Cummings & Cockerham, 2004;Lee & Woo, 2013). Higher scores reflect higher levels of perceived social support. ...
... This instrument consists of 12 items (e.g., "there is a special person that is around when I am in need") and a 4-point response format that ranged from (1) strongly disagree to (4) strongly agree. The scale has been used in several studies to measure global social support among various older adult populations, including those in rural areas, immigrant older adults, and residents in assisted living facilities (Cummings & Cockerham, 2004;Lee & Woo, 2013). Higher scores reflect higher levels of perceived social support. ...
American Indian (AI) older adults are vulnerable to mental health disparities, yet very little is known about the factors associated with help-seeking for mental health services among them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of Andersen’s Behavioral Model in explaining AI older adults’ help-seeking attitudes toward professional mental health services. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine predisposing, enabling, and need variables as predictors of help-seeking attitudes toward mental health services in a sample of 233 AI older adults from the Midwest. The model was found to have limited utility in the context of older AI help-seeking attitudes, as the proportion of explained variance was low. Gender, perceived stigma, social support, and physical health were significant predictors, whereas age, perceived mental health, and health insurance were not.
... This was done for multiple reasons. First, Korean immigrants are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States (Lee & Woo, 2013). Some researchers have mentioned that there is little research on healthpromoting behaviors related to activity participation among Korean immigrants (Berkman & Ko, 2010). ...
This qualitative study is designed to examine the benefits of physical activity involvement with members of the same ethnic group. For this study, Korean immigrants who were members of Korean physical activity clubs such as badminton and tennis were selected as participants. Using a constructive grounded theory methodology, three themes were identified as benefits of physical activity involvement: (1) the experience of psychological well-being, (2) the creation of a unique cultural world, and (3) the facilitation of physical activity involvement. The findings of this study suggest that Korean immigrant participants gained various social, cultural, and psychological benefits by engaging in activities with other Korean immigrants.
Despite poor sleep among older adults, little is known about the sleep habits of older immigrants living in the United States. The current pragmatic qualitative descriptive study explored sleep among older Korean immigrants, using a focus group with six participants and individual phone interviews with 22 Korean immigrants aged ≥60 years. Transcripts were coded to identify underlying themes. Several thematic categories were identified under six domains: daytime function, getting ready for bed, falling asleep, awakenings during sleep, going back to sleep, and seeking advice from peers. Unhealthy sleep behaviors were found during daytime and bedtime, particularly among those who were retired/unemployed or living alone. Seeking advice from peers was common but none of the advice helped participants sleep. Sleep education programs in Korean-speaking communities can be used to target those who are socially isolated and may benefit older Korean immigrants with sleep difficulties. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.].
Background:
Most studies that involve Black Seventh-Day Adventists (SDAs) have been conducted in the United States. We sought to examine the association between religious involvement and lifestyle practices among Black SDAs in Canada.
Method:
A convenience sample of 509 Black SDA church members 18 years and older completed a self-administered questionnaire, assessing religious involvement and seven lifestyle practices promoted by the SDA church: diet, physical activity, water intake, exposure to sunlight, alcohol use, caffeine and tobacco use, and rest.
Results:
Compliance with lifestyle practices ranged from a low of 10% meeting fitness guidelines to a high of 99% abstaining from tobacco products. Religious involvement and lifestyle were positively related (rs = .11, p < .05). Multivariate analyses indicated that private religious practice (β = .16, p =.003), importance of the health principles (β = .17, p = .003), and acceptance of health principles (β = .65, p = .00001) significantly predicted the number of behaviors practiced.
Conclusion:
Greater religious involvement is associated with positive lifestyle practices but is not an independent predictor of lifestyle practices for Black Canadian SDAs.
In this article the author reviews research evidence on the prevalence of mental disorders in lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs) and shows, using meta-analyses, that LGBs have a higher prevalence of mental disorders than heterosexuals. The author offers a conceptual framework for understanding this excess in prevalence of disorder in terms of minority stress— explaining that stigma, prejudice, and discrimination create a hostile and stressful social environment that causes mental health problems. The model describes stress processes, including the experience of prejudice events, expectations of rejection, hiding and concealing, internalized homophobia, and ameliorative coping processes. This conceptual framework is the basis for the review of research evidence, suggestions for future research directions, and exploration of public policy implications.
The development of a self-report measure of subjectively assessed social support, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), is described. Subjects included 136 female and 139 male university undergraduates. Three subscales, each addressing a different source of support, were identified and found to have strong factorial validity: (a) Family, (b) Friends, and (c) Significant Other. In addition, the research demonstrated that the MSPSS has good internal and test-retest reliability as well as moderate construct validity. As predicted, high levels of perceived social support were associated with low levels of depression and anxiety symptomatology as measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Gender differences with respect to the MSPSS are also presented. The value of the MSPSS as a research instrument is discussed, along with implications for future research.
ABSTRACT. Although research has grown considerably on spirituality and social work practice in recent years, there has been little investigation of what practitioners actually do with their clients and what influences their practice behaviors. Current findings from a random sample of 204 licensed clinical social workers indicate considerable focus on religion and spirituality in both assessment and intervention, with over two-thirds of the sample reporting that they had utilized 14 different spiritually-derived techniques with clients. In addition, analyses reveal four factors most predictive of the use of such techniques including:
practitioner attitudes, the percentage of clients presenting religious/spiritual issues, the percentage of clients for whom religion plays a detrimental role, and the level of practitioner participation in religious or spiritual services.
Little attention has been paid to subjective well-being among non-White elderly in rural areas where medical resources and financial support are deficient. The present study assessed a rural community sample of 215 elderly comprising 85 Caucasians, 75 African Americans, and 55 Native Americans, to examine roles of spirituality/religiousness on their subjective well-being. This study found ethnic differences in the reliance on religiosity/spirituality and a significant association between dimensions of religiousness/spirituality and subjective well-being among all ethnic rural elderly groups. The results of the study suggest that health providers, social workers, and faith communities need to provide rural elderly with religious and spiritual support in order to enhance their life satisfaction and lessen their emotional distress.
Examined the impact on a parent of an adult child contracting cancer. In this retrospective study, adjustment, psychological distress, family support, and frequency of kinship interaction of 41 parents (aged 49–81 yrs) and 41 ill adult children (aged 26–52 yrs) were examined through scores on the Psychosocial Adjustment to Physical Illness Scale (L. R. Derogatis, 1975), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (G. D. Zimet et al, 1988), and the Contact between Generation Battery (B. N. Adams, 1968) Scale. Results show that parents displayed more depression symptoms than did ill children. There was a significant positive correlation between depression, anxiety, and BSI Grand Severity Index (GSI) symptoms of the ill adult child and of the parent. A similar correlation was found between domestic environment, extended family relations, and total adjustment on the one hand, and family support on the other. Additionally, a significant but negative correlation was found between interpersonal relationships, paranoid ideation, psychotism, and GSI on the one hand, and family support on the other. Parents reported receiving less assistance and support from their ill adult child than the child reported receiving from the parents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Stigma consciousness, the expectation of prejudice and discrimination, has been associated with negative psychological outcomes for lesbians. This research examined the moderating role of social constraints or difficulty lesbians experience in talking with others about sexual orientation-related issues. One hundred five, predominantly out, lesbians completed measures of stigma consciousness, social constraints, lesbian-related stress, intrusive thoughts, internalized homophobia, negative mood, and physical symptoms. For lesbians who were high (but not low) in social constraints, stigma consciousness was positively associated with intrusive thoughts, internalized homophobia, and physical symptoms. These results add to the literature on the negative consequences of social constraints by suggesting that constraints in combination with high stress that is not necessarily traumatic (i.e., stigma consciousness) are associated with the most negative outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths (aged 15–21 yrs) were studied to determine the impact of verbal abuse, threat of attacks, and assault on their mental health, including suicide. Family support and self-acceptance were hypothesized to act as mediators of the victimization and mental health-suicide relation. Structural equation modeling revealed that in addition to a direct effect of victimization on mental health, family support and self-acceptance in concert mediated the victimization and mental health relation. Victimization was not directly related to suicide. Victimization interacted with family support to influence mental health, but only for low levels of victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This article analyzes why immigrant religion is viewed as a problematic area in Western Europe in contrast to the United States, where it is seen as facilitating the adaptation process. The difference, it is argued, is anchored in whether or not religion can play a major role for immigrants and the second generation as a bridge to inclusion in the new society. Three factors are critical: the religious backgrounds of immigrants in Western Europe and the United States; the religiosity of the native population; and historically rooted relations and arrangements between the state and religious groups.
We examine fluctuations in the predicted educational attainment of newly arrived legal U.S. immigrants between 1972 and 1999 by combining data from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service with the Current Population Survey. A mid-1980s decline gave way to a noticeable improvement in the skill base of the immigrant population between 1987 and 1993. A short decline in the quality of immigrant skills—less severe than that of the mid-1980s—took place in the mid-1990s. In 1998, the trend reverses once more: The labor market quality of new legal U.S. immigrants improves. The primary sources of the fluctuations include changes in the quality and quantity of immigrants obtaining an adjustment and variations in the distribution of source regions and entry class types among new legal U.S. immigrants.
Developed for use in health research, the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) consists of brief measures of a broad range of religiousness and spirituality (R/S) dimensions. It has established psychometric properties among adults, but little is known about its appropriateness for use with adolescents.
We assessed the psychometric properties of the BMMRS among adolescents.
We recruited a racially diverse (85% non-White) sample of 305 adolescents aged 12-18 years (median 16 yrs, IQR 14-17) from 3 urban medical clinics; 93 completed a retest 1 week later. We assessed internal consistency and test-retest reliability. We assessed construct validity by examining how well the measures discriminated groups expected to differ based on self-reported religious preference, and how they related to a hypothesized correlate, depressive symptoms. Religious preference was categorized into "No religion/Atheist" (11%), "Don't know/Confused" (9%), or "Named a religion" (80%).
Responses to multi-item measures were generally internally consistent (alpha > or = 0.70 for 12/16 measures) and stable over 1 week (intraclass correlation coefficients > or = 0.70 for 14/16). Forgiveness, Negative R/S Coping, and Commitment items showed lower internal cohesiveness. Scores on most measures were higher (p < 0.05) among those who "Named a religion" compared to the "No religion/Atheist" group. Forgiveness, Commitment, and Anticipated Support from members of one's congregation were inversely correlated with depressive symptoms, while BMMRS measures assessing negative R/S experiences (Negative R/S Coping, Negative Interactions with others in congregation, Loss in Faith) were positively correlated with depressive symptoms.
These findings suggest that most BMMRS measures are reliable and valid for use among adolescents.
Measuring Stress is the definitive resource for health and social scientists interested in assessing stress in humans. With contributions from leading experts, this work provides for the first time a unified conceptual overview of the intricate relationship between stress and a variety of disorders. Its interdisciplinary approach to the selection of appropriate environmental, psychological, and biological measures includes comprehensive evaluations and practical advice regarding a wide range of measurement approaches. For environmental stress, techniques such as checklists and interviews that measure life event, daily event, and chronic stress are discussed. An analysis of psychological measurements includes methods for assessing stress appraisal and affective response. Neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune measures are examined as important biological stress assessments. Contributors also uncover the conceptual underpinnings of each approach as well as the various costs and benefits of available assessment techniques. Reflecting the diversity of theoretical conceptions of stress, Measuring Stress masterfully provides integrative, incisive guidelines that will prove invaluable to students, clinicians, and researchers in health and social psychology, medicine, nursing, epidemiology, sociology, and psychiatry.
Practitioners identified religious and spiritual issues that emerge in social work practice and that are salient factors during various life stages. The data suggest that attention should be directed to this area of practice so that workers can deal competently with these issues.
Ideal for non-math majors, Advanced and Multivariate Statistical Methods teaches students to interpret, present, and write up results for each statistical technique without overemphasizing advanced math. This highly applied approach covers the why, what, when and how of advanced and multivariate statistics in a way that is neither too technical nor too mathematical. Students also learn how to compute each technique using SPSS software. New to the Sixth Edition Instructor ancillaries are now available with the sixth edition. All SPSS directions and screenshots have been updated to Version 23 of the software. Student learning objectives have been added as a means for students to target their learning and for instructors to focus their instruction. Key words are reviewed and reinforced in the end of chapter material to ensure that students understand the vocabulary of advanced and multivariate statistics.
Social science research on stigma has grown dramatically over the past two decades, particularly in social psychology, where researchers have elucidated the ways in which people construct cognitive categories and link those categories to stereotyped beliefs. In the midst of this growth, the stigma concept has been criticized as being too vaguely defined and individually focused. In response to these criticisms, we define stigma as the co-occurrence of its components-labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination-and further indicate that for stigmatization to occur, power must be exercised. The stigma concept we construct has implications for understanding several core issues in stigma research, ranging from the definition of the concept to the reasons stigma sometimes represents a very persistent predicament in the lives of persons affected by it. Finally, because there are so many stigmatized circumstances and because stigmatizing processes can affect multiple domains of people's lives, stigmatization probably has a dramatic bearing on the distribution of life chances in such areas as earnings, housing, criminal involvement, health, and life itself. It follows that social scientists who are interested in understanding the distribution of such life chances should also be interested in stigma.
There is increasing research evidence that religious involvement is associated both cross-sectionally and prospectively with better physical health, better mental health, and longer survival. These relationships remain substantial in size and statistically significant with other risk and protective factors for morbidity and mortality statistically controlled. In this article, we review the social and psychological factors that have been hypothesized to explain the health-promoting effects of religious involvement. The four potential psychosocial mechanisms that have received empirical attention are health practices, social support, psychosocial resources such as self-esteem and self-efficacy, and belief structures such as sense of coherence. Evidence concerning these potential mediators is mixed and inconsistent, suggesting there is more to be learned about the pathways by which religion affects health. Other possible explanations for the salubrious effects of religious involvement on health and longevity are discussed.
This file contains the State population projections descriptive text and methodology sections from the PPL-47 report. It excludes the detailed tables 1 to 7 and appendix table A-1. The complete PPL-47 report with detailed tables can be ordered from the Population Division Statistical Information Staff (phone 301-763-2422).
The aim of the study was to examine the mediating and moderating roles of social support in the acculturation–mental health link, and to investigate how these processes combine with self-esteem to affect mental health change. Questionnaire data were collected twice from 137 immigrant students, first at the upstart in junior high school, and then again a year later (8th and 9th grade). Acculturation was described in positive terms as a developmental process towards gaining competence within more than one sociocultural setting. Perceived discrimination and ethnic identity crisis were included as risk factors in this process. A model of structural relations was tested, which after some modifications demonstrated a close fit to the data. The results supported our suggestions of two indirect paths of effects of acculturation on mental health change: one through culture domain-specific social support and another through self-esteem. Self-esteem was also identified as a mediator of identity crisis. Significant interaction effects between social support and culture competencies were demonstrated in addition to buffer effects of class and family support in relation to identity crisis and discrimination respectively. The study adds to our understanding of positive and negative developmental pathways in multicultural societies.
There is increasing research evidence that religious involvement is associated both cross-sectionally and prospectively with better physical health, better mental health, and longer survival. These relationships remain substantial in size and statistically significant with other risk and protective factors for morbidity and mortality statistically controlled. In this article, we review the social and psychological factors that have been hypothesized to explain the health-promoting effects of religious involvement. The four potential psychosocial mechanisms that have received empirical attention are health practices, social support, psychosocial resources such as self-esteem and self-efficacy, and belief structures such as sense of coherence. Evidence concerning these potential mediators is mixed and inconsistent, suggesting there is more to be learned about the pathways by which religion affects health. Other possible explanations for the salubrious effects of religious involvement on health and longevity are discussed.
This third edition of the widely acclaimed classic has been thoroughly expanded and updated to reflect current demographic, economic, and political realities. Drawing on recent census data and other primary sources, Portes and Rumbaut have infused the entire text with new information and added a vivid array of new vignettes and illustrations. Recognized for its superb portrayal of immigration and immigrant lives in the United States, this book probes the dynamics of immigrant politics, examining questions of identity and loyalty among newcomers, and explores the psychological consequences of varying modes of migration and acculturation. The authors look at patterns of settlement in urban America, discuss the problems of English-language acquisition and bilingual education, explain how immigrants incorporate themselves into the American economy, and examine the trajectories of their children from adolescence to early adulthood. With a vital new chapter on religion-and fresh analyses of topics ranging from patterns of incarceration to the mobility of the second generation and the unintended consequences of public policies-this updated edition is indispensable for framing and informing issues that promise to be even more hotly and urgently contested as the subject moves to the center of national debate.
Social science research on stigma has grown dramatically over the past two decades, particularly in social psychology, where researchers have elucidated the ways in which people construct cognitive categories and link those categories to stereotyped beliefs. In the midst of this growth, the stigma concept has been criticized as being too vaguely defined and individually focused. In response to these criticisms, we define stigma as the co-occurrence of its components–labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination–and further indicate that for stigmatization to occur, power must be exercised. The stigma concept we construct has implications for understanding several core issues in stigma research, ranging from the definition of the concept to the reasons stigma sometimes represents a very persistent predicament in the lives of persons affected by it. Finally, because there are so many stigmatized circumstances and because stigmatizing processes can affect multiple domains of people's li...
An abstract is not available.
"Social Causes of Psychological Distress" is a scientific look at community patterns of well-being and distress. . . . "Social Causes of Psychological Distress" is about research that takes a different approach—research that explicitly and objectively measures feelings such as fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, guilt, despair, depression, demoralization, joy, fulfillment, and hope, and that maps the relationship of these feelings to social conditions and positions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Identified and collected data from all Hmong refugees in Minnesota and informed them of available psychiatric services. 97 16+ yr olds were administered the Self-Rating Depression Scale and the Symptom Checklist-90. Ss were also classified according to DSM-III criteria; 17 patients were identified. As anticipated, the most common clinical symptom involved depression, though the severity was greater than expected. The self-rating scales demonstrated that severe symptoms of some duration were present among the patients prior to their seeking care. Findings also indicate that the psychosocial stressors experienced by psychiatric patients, while considerable, were not appreciably different from those experienced by the entire group. It is suggested that the 1-yr incidence of psychiatric disorder was related to the severity of psychosocial stressors experienced by the patient group and the high level of symptoms experienced by the entire group. Also noted is the "reverberation phenomenon" in which patients commonly showed major signs of one syndrome and minor signs of one or several other syndromes. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Abstract To understand ethnic inequalities in health, we must take account of the relationship between ethnic minority status, structural disadvantage and agency. So far, the direct effects of racial oppression on health, and the role of ethnicity as identity, which is in part a product of agency, have been ignored. We set out to redress this balance using data from the Fourth National Survey of Ethnic Minorities. Factor analysis suggested that dimensions of ethnic identity were consistent across the various ethnic minority groups. Initially some of these dimensions of ethnic identity appeared to be related to health, but in a multivariate model the factor relating to a racialised identity was the only one that exhibited any relationship with health. These findings suggest that ethnic identity is not related to health. Rather, the multivariate analyses presented here showed strong independent relationships between health and experiences of racism, perceived racial discrimination and class.
In this chapter, we focus on an overview of clinical issues in Asian American mental health. In particular, we focus on psychological
distress and its manifestation within different subpopulations, looking at common acculturation stressors as a background
for understanding Asian American emotional health, as well as other key factors that are likely to affect Asian American mental
health. We will review research on various age groups and clinical implications from the literature review, and finally, we
look at what is known about mental health problems and mental health service utilization in Asian Americans.
KeywordsAsian American mental health–Acculturation–Asian American mental health service utilization
This article examines the extent to which racial differences in socio-economic status (SES), social class and acute and chronic indicators of perceived discrimination, as well as general measures of stress can account for black-white differences in self-reported measures of physical and mental health. The observed racial differences in health were markedly reduced when adjusted for education and especially income. However, both perceived discrimination and more traditional measures of stress are related to health and play an incremental role in accounting for differences between the races in health status. These findings underscore the need for research efforts to identify the complex ways in which economic and non-economic forms of discrimination relate to each other and combine with socio-economic position and other risk factors and resources to affect health.
Depression among immigrant groups, especially Korean immigrants, has often lacked a comprehensive understanding by the providers of Western health care. This study aims to explore the subjective experience of Korean immigrants suffering from depression during resettlement in the United States. A series of focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with Korean immigrants in New York City who identified themselves as depressed. Participants described their depression as manifested through the feeling of an "unbalanced self " and tended to express dysphoric symptoms in somatic terms. These differences need to be reflected in the assessment and treatment of depression in Korean immigrants.
Dean's Alienation Scale (DAS) was administered to 137 Korean immigrants, aged sixty years or older, who had resided in the United States for at least one year but not more than fifteen years. The study was made in order to determine the relationship of alienation to the independent variables of place of residence (an ethnically homogeneous Korean community in Los Angeles vs. ethnically heterogeneous communities in Oklahoma), gender, age, years of education, time in the United States, living with or without children, and living with or without a spouse. Significant relationships (p less than .01) were found between one or more of the subscales of the DAS (powerlessness, normlessness, social isolation, and total alienation) and place of residence, age, time in the United States, and whether living with or without a spouse. Simultaneous regression analyses were performed to determine the relative contribution of the independent variables to each of the subscales.
The main objectives of this paper are an empirical investigation of major structural and situational variables related to Korean immigrants' mental health and a theoretical exploration of the meaning of the empirical findings. As part of a larger epidemiological research, the data for this paper derive from diagnostic interviews of 622 Korean immigrants (20 years and older) residing in the Chicago area. Data analyses reveal that, among the respondents in general, those who are married, highly educated, and currently employed in a high-status occupation indicate better subjective mental health (less demoralized and more satisfied with life) than others. Of other variables examined, however, significant gender differences in the correlates of mental health are observed. For the male immigrants, a set of work-related variables is clearly the strongest correlate of their mental health, whereas no such distinctive set of variables accounts for the female immigrants' mental health. Nevertheless, the family life satisfaction and several ethnic attachment variables are moderately related to the female immigrants' mental health. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in light of the confluence of ethnic attachment and acculturation on immigrants' mental health.
Our review has focused centrally on the etiologic significance of social factors in the development of psychopathology. Our implicit assumption has been that social factors in general, and stressors in particular, may play a causal role in the development of psychopathology. Yet the evidence is clear that the vast majority of people who are exposed to stressful life events or to chronic stress situations do not develop significant psychiatric impairments. For this reason, research interest over the past decade has shifted to factors like social support and coping strategies that may ameliorate the impact of stress. We have examined some of the important empirical results from recent studies of stress, support, and coping, and we have discussed ways in which these new understandings have informed long-standing attempts to explain group differences in emotional functioning. In each section of the review we have attempted not only to summarize existing results but also to provide some evaluation of the literature and suggestions for future research. It is important to recognize that the contributors to the work reviewed here do not all share a common research agenda. Some of them are primarily committed to unraveling the psychosocial determinants of a particular clinical disorder. Others are mainly concerned with the effects of a particular stressor. Still others are interested in the processes that link stress to health across a broad array of stress situations and health outcomes. In the face of these diverse interests, it is little wonder that our understanding of social factors in psychopathology is uneven. There is good reason to believe, however that these diverse strands of research are beginning to converge on a common conception of the stress process and on a common research design. The conception at present is only in rough form, but its outlines are nonetheless capable of description. At its center is the notion that stress exposure sets off a process of adaptation. It recognizes that this process unfolds over time, and it acknowledges that this process is modified by structural factors as well as by personal dispositions and vulnerabilities. There is growing recognition that the analysis of this process requires longitudinal methods. Also, it is becoming increasingly clear that experimental interventions are required to unravel the parts of this process that link stress and health. It is too early to know if this nascent convergence will lead to an integrative theory of adaptation, yet it is almost certain to promote methodological and conceptual rigor and facilitate replication and cumulation of findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The dearth of population-based studies and epidemiological investigations on the mental health problems of Asian-Americans, especially since the change in the immigration laws in 1965, has led to contradictory speculations about the prevalence rates of mental illness and the general mental health status among Asian-Americans, as opposed to other segments of the population. We administered the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale to 499 samples drawn from a Northwestern coastal city in order to make an initial assessment of the amount of depression experienced by Asian-Americans. The investigation compared the Asian-Americans' CES-D scores with those of whites and other minority groups, examined the scale's patterns of factor loading by ethnicity, and discovered that, even with statistical controls, there exists a distinction among the individual groups of Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, and Koreans with respect to their score averages of depressive symptoms.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of social support and religion to mortality after elective open heart surgery in older patients. Of the 232 patients included in the study, 21 died within 6 months of surgery. Three biomedical variables were significant predictors of mortality and selected as adjustment variables for a multivariate analysis: history of previous cardiac surgery; greater impairment in presurgery basic activities of daily living; and older age. Among the social support and religion variables, two were consistent predictors of mortality in the multivariate analyses: lack of participation in social or community groups and absence of strength and comfort from religion. These results suggest that in older persons lack of participation in groups and absence of strength and comfort in religion are independently related to risk for death during the 6-month period after cardiac surgery.