scholarly journals Sleep Disturbance Among Older Korean Immigrants

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 916-916
Author(s):  
Yeonsu Song ◽  
Haesook Kim ◽  
Diane Lee ◽  
Gery Ryan ◽  
B Josea Kramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Sleeping Pills ◽  
Older Korean Immigrants ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Interview Transcript

Abstract Little is known about sleep disturbance among older Korean immigrants living in the United States. In this exploratory study, we conducted focus groups with 6 and phone interviews with 22 older Korean immigrants to explore and understand their sleep experiences. Three members of the research team fluent in Korean independently coded each focus group and phone interview transcript to identify underlying themes. The following themes emerged: Daytime naps were acceptable behaviors, particularly among those who were retired or not employed. Many reported worry and anxiety rumination behaviors that interfered with their sleep. In addition, praying, reading the bible, and singing hymns often occurred while in bed, and smartphone or tablet use was a frequent activity as well. Drinking alcohol and taking sleeping pills were used as a last resort to help with sleep, particularly among those who lived alone. Internal (e.g., biological urge, snoring, medical conditions) and external distractions (e.g., noise) contributed to nighttime awakenings. Living alone and worrying about the future made it difficult for some to return to sleep after awakening. Seeking advice from peers was a common behavior but did not seem to help with sleep. Calming activities such as reading a book, taking a shower, watch television, or writing a diary were routinely performed before bedtime. These findings are consistent with unhealthy sleep behaviors shown in other racial/ethnic minority older adults with poor sleep. Sleep education programs in Korean-speaking churches may be used to target those who are socially isolated and may benefit older Korean immigrants.

The Association of Acculturative Stress with Self-reported Sleep Disturbance and Sleep Duration among Asian Americans

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunmin Lee ◽  
Soomin Ryu ◽  
Grace E Lee ◽  
Ichiro Kawachi ◽  
Brittany N Morey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Item Scale

Abstract Study Objectives This study aims to examine associations between acculturative stress– defined as the psychological impact, or stress reaction, of adapting to a new cultural context –and self-reported sleep outcomes among Chinese and Korean immigrants in the United States. Methods In this cross-sectional study, acculturative stress was assessed using a 9-item scale, and sleep disturbance was measured using the 8-item scale. Sleep duration was self-reported. Poisson and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between acculturative stress, sleep disturbance, and sleep duration. Results Our sample consists of 400 participants (females: 52%, Chinese: 50%, Koreans: 50%, the mean of age=58.4). 81.8% of them were classified as having no sleep disturbance, while 18.2% were classified as having sleep disturbance. Poisson models revealed that greater acculturative stress was associated with a higher prevalence of sleep disturbance (Prevalence Ratio (PR): 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.31). In linear models, a one-unit increase in acculturative stress was associated with 0.08 hours less sleep (p <0.05). Interaction tests indicated effect modification for sleep disturbance by sex and ethnic identity: only women had a significant association between acculturative stress and sleep disturbance (PR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.13-1.49), while the association was significant for individuals identifying as “very Asian” (PR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.08-1.35), but not for those identifying as “mostly Asian” or “bicultural/western”. Conclusions If findings are replicated, we suggest developing intervention programs for Asian immigrants to minimize acculturative stress and bolster protective factors that decrease the risk for poor sleep outcomes.

The Influence of Social Networks and Supports on Depression Symptoms: Differential Pathways for Older Korean Immigrants and Non-Hispanic White Americans

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haesang Jeon ◽  
James Lubben
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Older Korean Immigrants ◽  
Hispanic White

Objectives: The current cross-cultural study examines the pathways underlying different formations of social networks and social support systems, which affect depression symptoms among older Korean immigrants and non-Hispanic Whites in the United States.Method: Data for this study came from a panel survey of 223 older Korean American immigrants and 201 non-Hispanic White older adults 65 years of age and older living in Los Angeles. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to test the proposed conceptual model designed to explain the direct and indirect relationships between social networks and social support on depression symptoms.Results: Empirical evidence from this study indicated different effect of one’s social networks and social support on depression by race/ethnicity.Discussion: The work discussed in this article pointed to the need to recognize the role of culture in assessing the relationships between social networks, social support, and health among older adults.

scholarly journals Mediating role of resilience between successful aging and acculturation among older Korean immigrants In the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 117-133
Author(s):  
Jaewon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Weak Correlation ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Older Korean Immigrants

Background: This study was to investigate how acculturative stress affects older Korean immigrants' successful aging and whether resilience can play a mediator's role to the sample population's successful aging or not. The research design was a cross-sectional survey using three valid and reliable scales such as Successful Aging Scale, Acculturative Stress Scale, and Resilience Scale. A research shows that there is no or minimum correlation between acculturative stress and successful aging (Choi & Thomas, 2009). However, it was hypothesized that although there was a weak correlation between acculturative stress and successful aging, once the resilience involved as a mediator, the correlation would be stronger. Methods: The study was designed as a self-administered survey research using the scales mentioned above. One hundred and two (N=102) older Koreans who currently enrolled in Adult Health Care Centers in Los Angeles, CA, participated in this study. Multiple Regression, Correlation, ANOVA, and t-test was administered to analyze the collected data. Results: The results indicated that there was a positive but weak correlation between acculturative stress and the sample population's successful aging rate (r = .252, p<.05). Interestingly, when resilience intervened as a mediator, the correlation between acculturation and successful aging was increased to (r = .622, p<.05). Therefore, the study discovered that the resilience was able to play a mediator's role between acculturative stress and successful aging among the older Korean immigrants. Implications: The findings can be directed to social work researchers and practitioners to help educate the ethnic older adults in the community on the social and behavioral importance of the positive aspects of aging such as successful aging and healthy aging to increase the chance of community member's longevity. Future research will include other ethnic and immigrant older populations in the community to show internal and external validity of the study related to successful aging, acculturative stress, and resilience.

Songs of their lives: A narrative study of three older Korean immigrants in Los Angeles

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-175
Author(s):  
Eun Cho
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Emotional Communication ◽  
Narrative Study ◽  
Older Immigrants ◽  
The Past ◽  
Older Korean Immigrants ◽  
Temporal Moments

Conceptualized as a narrative inquiry, this study explored how music permeates the lives of older Korean immigrants in the United States. By closely examining three individuals’ lived experiences through the narratives they told, the study aimed to illuminate the complexity, depth, and uniqueness of meanings embedded in the musical lives of older immigrants. Narrative data revealed that while all interviewees had lived in the same time periods and went through many similar life events, each individual used different “colors and shapes” to “paint” their musical lives. Yet, some common themes also appeared from the narrative data: songs in the lives of the older immigrants portrayed their personhood, including who they are, where they come from, and what they like/dislike. Also, as a means of emotional communication, songs were intrinsically related to temporal moments at particular circumstances in the past, often paired with affective reactions. Finally, songs helped make sense of the socio-historical contexts in which the older immigrants have lived.

scholarly journals Social Determinants of Health among Older Korean Immigrants in the United States: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 961-961
Author(s):  
Sojeong Lee ◽  
Victoria Rizzo
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Older Korean Immigrants

Abstract The visible impact of the SDoHs on health and behavioral health as well as health disparities among minority populations is heightened due to COVID-19. One group about which little is known in relation to SDoHs is the older Korean immigrant population in the U.S. To examine the impact of SDoHs on the health, mental health, and health care utilization, a systematic review of studies focused on SDoHs for this population was conducted. Using multiple indexing terms, databases were searched for articles published in English between January 1, 2011 and December 2020. Articles were included in the search if they examined social determinants of health of older Korean immigrants defined as foreign-born Koreans aged 60 or older who live in the United States regardless of citizenship or legal immigration status. A total of 1090 articles were identified in the search. A review of abstracts for inclusion criteria resulted in 118 articles for review. Seventy-one articles were excluded during the review process. A total of 47 articles met inclusion criteria and were evaluated. The review revealed that SDoHs, including education level, financial resources, access to health insurance, level of acculturation and level of social support, influenced cognitive status, depressive symptoms, health status and quality of life. These findings validate the need for interventions to address the social care needs of older Korean immigrants and can be used to identify the role of social workers in addressing the SDoHs that result in health disparities for older Korean immigrants.

scholarly journals Oral Health and Dental Care in Older Korean Immigrants in the United States: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Jang ◽  
Min-Ky. Rhee ◽  
Chung Hyeon Jeong ◽  
Eun Young Choi ◽  
Juyoung Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Older Korean Immigrants

Daughters’ Generation: The Importance of Having Daughters Living Nearby for Older Korean Immigrants’ Mental Health

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (16) ◽  
pp. 2329-2345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunhui Oh ◽  
Monika Ardelt ◽  
Tanya Koropeckyj-Cox
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
The United States ◽  
Korean Immigrants ◽  
Asian Immigrants ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Older Korean Immigrants

With declining adherence to filial piety in East Asian cultures, the closeness of adult daughters rather than sons may become more important for older Asian immigrants’ well-being. With a sample of 177 older Korean immigrants to the United States (age 60+, M = 72, SD = 7.7), we examined how and to what extent having daughters living nearby rather than sons (daughters-in-law) is related to older Asian immigrants’ mental health, moderating the direct relationship between stressful life events and depressive symptoms. The analyses showed physical proximity of daughters rather than sons (daughters-in-law) functioned as a stress buffer by reducing the direct relation between stressful life events and older immigrants’ depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that gendered cultural expectations of adult children’s caregiving roles for older Korean immigrants are changing, implying that companionship and the perceived quality of instrumental and emotional support might take priority over traditional gendered expectations of filial piety.

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