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Ha and Kim: Factors Influencing Depression in Married Immigrant Women in Korea
Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2013; 19(4): 254-264.

Published online: 31 December 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2013.19.4.254

Factors Influencing Depression in Married Immigrant Women in Korea

Ju Young Ha, Yoon Ji Kim

College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Kim, Yoon Ji. College of Nursing, Pusan National University, 49 Busandaehak-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan 626-870, Korea. Tel: +82-10-6369-1812, Fax: +82-51-510-8308, gadget-@hanmail.net

Received 25 September 2013       Revised 11 December 2013       Accepted 12 December 2013

© 2013 Korean Society of Women Health Nursing

(open-access):

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing depression of married immigrant women in Korea.

Methods

Participants included 127 married immigrant women who met eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Participants were evaluated for subjective assessment of married immigrant-related constructs using a self-report questionnaire, for depression, acculturation stress, and social support. The analysis was done using SPSS for Windows, version 18.0, and included stepwise regression.

Results

The major findings were as follows; 1) Depression significantly differed according to native country, length of residence in Korea, education, family monthly income, household and primary support. 2) There were significant relationships between marital life satisfaction (r=-.80, p<.001), acculturative stress (r=.78, p<.001), and social support (r=-.20, p = .025). 3) Marital life satisfaction, family monthly income, acculturative stress, primary support and social support were significant factors, which explained 84.6% of the variance in depression (F=138.04, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that a powerful predictor of depression for married immigrant women was marital life satisfaction.

Conclusion

Based upon the findings, this study provides useful information that could assist in reducing depression among married immigrant women, and indicates that nursing interventions are needed.

Keywords: Immigrants, Depression, Stress, Social support, Acculturation, Marriage, Personal satisfaction

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Differences in Depression according to Socio-demographic Factors (N=126)
kjwhn-19-254-i001

†Scheffé test; ‡Language used for chatting with husband.

Table 2
Levels of Depression and related Variables (N=126)
kjwhn-19-254-i002
Table 3
Relationships among Study Variables (N=126)
kjwhn-19-254-i003
Table 4
Predictors on Depression (N=126)
kjwhn-19-254-i004

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