Stressors, Coping Resources, Functioning, and Role Limitations Among Older Korean Immigrants: Gender Differences

Abstract

This study explored the differential impacts of stressors and coping resources on the functioning and roles of 246 older Korean immigrant men and women. Older Korean immigrant women were significantly more likely than men to have acculturation and socioeconomic stressors, physical/social functioning problems, and role limitations. English-language barriers and lack of transportation were significantly related to lower functioning and higher role limitations of older Korean women compared to those of older men. Providing social and health care services with bilingual and transportation services to older Korean immigrant women is recommended to increase their physical/social functioning and role performance.

Keywords:

• Korean immigrants
• stressors
• functioning
• role limitations
• social support
• spirituality