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. © 2010, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.

New York City unbalanced self Depression Korean immigrants

information processing cultural anthropology depression psychological aspect human middle aged statistics Aged Adaptation, Psychological Cultural Competency ethnology cultural competence interview United States Young Adult Humans Adolescent Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female adaptive behavior questionnaire Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Psychometrics psychometry Article Questionnaires adult migration New York City attitude to health Focus Groups Culture Korea