Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
Volume 30, Issue 2, 2015, Pages 131-141

Social Capital in Ethnic Communities and Mental Health: A Study of Older Korean Immigrants (Article)

Jang Y.* , Park N.S. , Chiriboga D.A. , Yoon H. , An S. , Kim M.T.
  • a School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd., D 3500, Austin, TX 78712, United States
  • b School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
  • c Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
  • d School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd., D 3500, Austin, TX 78712, United States
  • e School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd., D 3500, Austin, TX 78712, United States
  • f School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States

Abstract

This study examined how social capital in ethnic communities (e.g., social cohesion, community support, community participation, and negative interaction) influences depressive symptoms of older Korean immigrants. Using survey data from 209 participants in Central Texas (Mage = 69.6, SD = 7.50), hierarchical regression models of depressive symptoms were examined with the following sets of predictors: (1) demographics, (2) physical health, (3) sociocultural factors, and (4) ethnic community factors. After controlling for the multiple sets of individual-level variables previously known to be important predictors of mental health, ethnic community factors made a substantial contribution. Higher levels of depressive symptoms were observed among individuals who received lower levels of community support (β = −0.14, p < 0.05), had limited participation in ethnic community events and activities (β = −0.15, p < 0.05), and reported more frequent negative interactions with ethnic community members (β = 0.12, p < 0.05). Findings highlight the importance of social capital in ethnic communities and hold implications for improving older ethnic immigrants’ mental well-being. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Older Korean immigrants Social capital ethnic community Depressive symptoms

Index Keywords

South Korea depression social capital Republic of Korea demography human middle aged health status Aged ethnology Humans migrant psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants female Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors very elderly psychological rating scale socioeconomics Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Texas
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84929709823&doi=10.1007%2fs10823-015-9258-9&partnerID=40&md5=260293d336d4d30ca73ffb2672fd77fc
DOI: 10.1007/s10823-015-9258-9
ISSN: 01693816
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English