Depression is one of the most prevalent health problems for immigrants in the United States (U.S.) and it has been associated with the process of acculturation. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify subgroups of Korean immigrant women based on their Korean as well as American acculturation levels using cluster analysis and to determine whether these subgroups differ on depressive symptoms in 200 Korean immigrant women aged 20-64. Cluster analysis identified four as the most appropriate number of subgroups: they were designated as Korean cluster (45%), Marginalized cluster (26%), American cluster (22%), and Bicultural cluster (7%). Korean cluster had high scores on Korean acculturation and low American acculturation, Marginalized had low for both, American had high scores on American acculturation, low for Korean acculturation, and Bicultural had high scores for both. Women in the Marginalized subgroup reported significantly higher depression scores than women in the American and Korean clusters. It is important to identify immigrants who do not relate to either their heritage culture or the new host culture and address their mental health risk issues. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007.

Korean immigrant women Cluster analysis Depression Acculturation

depression immigrant mental health human middle aged controlled study mental stress priority journal language Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult cluster analysis cross-sectional study Humans ethnic difference Adolescent Asian Americans Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female questionnaire cultural factor prevalence women's health Article major clinical study adult ethnicity health hazard Korea