Ethnic Enclave Resources and Predictors of Depression Among Arizona's Korean Immigrant Elders

Abstract

This is the first study examining predictors of depression among Arizona's Korean immigrant elders not residing in ethnic enclaves. A snowball sample of 120 elders, aged 64 and over, completed the study interview. The proportion of respondents reporting depression was 38.1%, higher than the incidence reported among counterparts in New York City's immigrant ethnic enclaves. Multiple regression analyses (R² = .44) indicate that English language proficiency had the most powerful effect on explaining depression. Discussion centers on why programs aimed at reducing language barriers among socially isolated immigrant elders need to be a first priority in service provision.

KEYWORDS:

• Language proficiency
• ethnic enclave
• depression
• social isolation
• Korean immigrant elders

This research was supported by a grant from the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program. Special thanks go to the Korean immigrant elders who participated in this project and the community organizations that assisted in the sampling process.