Public Health Nursing
Volume 36, Issue 5, 2019, Pages 603-614

Health literacy, depression, and stress among Chinese immigrants in South Korea (Article)

An J.-Y. , Moon H.* , Cha S.
  • a Azwie Foundation, Mt. Laurel, NJ, United States, School of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ, United States
  • b Department of Nursing, Far East University, Chungbuk, South Korea
  • c Department of Nursing Science, Sunmoon University, Chungnam, South Korea

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined health literacy, depression, and stress in Chinese immigrants living in South Korea, and analyzed factors related to these outcomes. Design: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Sample: Participants were 128 adult Chinese immigrants living in the Jung-gu District of Seoul, South Korea. The majority of the participants were women and in their 40s; had a high school diploma; and were employed and married. Most had lived in Korea for 5–10 years. Measurements: Outcome variables were health literacy, depression, and immigrant stress; independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, language proficiency, health, and behavioral factors. Hierarchical multiple regression models based on the conceptual framework were tested. Results: The major factor influencing health literacy was perceived economic status (p = 0.021). The factors related to depression were life satisfaction in China (p = 0.032), life satisfaction in Korea (p = 0.040), and stress perception in everyday life (p = 0.001). Conclusions: As the number of immigrants rises, there is increasing demand for public-health-center-based health promotion programs for immigrants. It is recommended that local public health practitioners, including public health nurses, closely analyze the characteristics of their community and immigrants, and develop and implement customized programs accordingly. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

Health literacy immigrant stress Depression Chinese immigrants

Index Keywords

perception China South Korea immigrant economic status health promotion public health service nurse high school independent variable multiple regression human controlled study language human tissue conceptual framework life satisfaction married person male female stress Article adult human experiment physician outcome variable outcome assessment health literacy

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068230264&doi=10.1111%2fphn.12632&partnerID=40&md5=464441582aa8b0576679fcea7960d21c

DOI: 10.1111/phn.12632
ISSN: 07371209
Original Language: English