Summary Purpose This study examined the effects of health status and health behaviors on depression in married female immigrants in South Korea. Methods Sampling 316 immigrant women from the Philippines, Vietnam, China, and other Asian countries, a cross-sectional research design was used with self-report questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, health status, health behaviors, and depression. Results There were significant differences in stillbirth experience, induced abortion, morbidity, perceived health status, meal skipping, and physical activity between depressed and nondepressed immigrant women. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, stillbirth experience, poorer perceived health status, more meal skipping, and less physical activity were associated with greater depressive symptoms. Conclusions Both health status and health behaviors had significant impacts on depression, suggesting that development of nursing interventions and educational programs should be targeted towards improving maternal health, healthy lifestyle, and subjective health perception to promote married female immigrants' psychological well-being. Copyright © 2015, Korean Society of Nursing Science.

emigrants and immigrants Health behavior Health status Women Depression

physical activity induced abortion South Korea immigrant depression Asian Republic of Korea human Health Behavior Self Report Asian continental ancestry group statistics and numerical data controlled study priority journal health status morbidity Logistic Models Depressive Disorder rural health ethnology Urban Health Cross-Sectional Studies marriage Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult health cross-sectional study migrant Humans married person Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics questionnaire high risk population Article major clinical study adult stillbirth statistical model