J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2013 Jun;24(2):151-160. 10.12799/jkachn.2013.24.2.151.

Factors of Depression in Korean-Chinese Elders in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China: With Reference to Han-Chinese Living in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture

• Song ML
• Park KM

• KMID: 2292758
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2013.24.2.151

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to investigate depression in Korean-Chinese elder living in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China.
METHODS
A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted using face to face private interviews for elders aged over 59, who have been dwelling in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. The samples consisted of 183 Korean-Chinese and 182 Han-Chinese with the latter as a reference group. Data were collected from August 25 to September 20, 2011 and analyzed with the SPSS 18.0 program. The GDS (Geriatric Depression Scale) was used to measure elderly depression in the subjects.
RESULTS
In Korean-Chinese, the rate of depression was higher in those who had lower educational levels, and were economically supported by the government. And those who had depression showed lower scores in Chinese language proficiency, health status, and social supports, and had more chronic diseases. Factors having effects on Korean-Chinese elderly depression included perceived health status and subjective support.
CONCLUSION
According to the results, for preventing the depression of Korean-Chinese, it is necessary to develop health management programs and social support networks, which were easy to approach.

Keyword

Elderly; Depression; China

MeSH Terms

Aged
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
China
Chronic Disease
Depression
Humans

Reference

1. Ahn JH. Explanatory factors for depressive symptoms among Korean elderly immigrants. J Korean Gerontol Soc. 2007. 27(3):597–616.

2. Bernstein KS, Park SY, Shin J, Cho S, Park Y. Acculturation, discrimination and depressive symptoms among Korean immigrants in New York City. Community Ment Health J. 2011. 47(1):24–34.

3. Cheung SD, Kim BJ, Seo HS. A study on anxiety and depression in the Korean elderly at Yanbian. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc . 1994. 33(6):1313–1320.

4. Cho BH, Lee KO, Park HW, Lee JY. Acculturation of immigrant Korean families in Yanbian and Shenyang/Harbin, China. J Korean Home Econ Assoc. 2005. 43(8):37–54.

5. Jang Y, Kim G, Chiriboga D. Acculturation and manifestation of depressive symptoms among Korean American older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2005. 9(6):500–507.

6. Jilin Daily. Jilin Korean population status and factors analysis. 2005. 05. 12. Retrieved July 9, 2011. from http://tjj.jl.gov.cn/tjfx/2004/200510/t20 051020_59279.html.

7. Kessler RC, Foster C, Webster PS, House JS. The relationship between age and depressive symptoms in two national surveys. Psychol Aging. 1992. 7(1):119–126.

8. Kim HK, Ko SH, Chung SH. Suicidal ideation and risk factors among the elderly in Korea. J Korean Acad Public Health Nurs. 2010. 24(1):82–92.

9. Kim JS, Wen Y. A comparative study on mortality patterns among Koreans, Korean-Chinese and Chinese. J Korean Med Sci. 1999. 14(4):365–372.

10. Korean Chinese (n.d.). State ethnic affairs commission of the people's Republic of China. 2011. Retrieved November 26. from http://www.seac.gov.cn/col/col292/index.html.

11. Kuo BC, Chong V, Joseph J. Depression and its psychosocial correlates among older Asian immigrants in North America: A critical review of two decades' research. J Aging Health. 2008. 20(6):615–652.

12. Kurlowicz LH. Nursing standard of practice protocol: Depression in elderly patients. NICHE faculty. Geriatr Nurs. 1997. 18(5):192–199.

13. Lee MS. Chronic diseases, depressive symptoms and the effects of social networks in Korean elderly population. Health Soc Sci. 2010. 27:5–30.

14. Li CY, Li SZ, Chen B, Jin YH, Jin YA, Piao YA. Health status of Yanbian residents and family care needs survey. Chin J Nurs. 2001. 8:628–629.

15. Li XW, Li CY. Yanbian elderly health literacy on health status effects. Chin J Gerontol. 2009. 23:3101–3102.

16. Min JW, Moon A, Lubben JE. Determinants of psychological distress over time among older Korean immigrants and non-Hispanic white elders: Evidence from a two-wave panel study. Aging Ment Health. 2005. 9(3):210–222.

17. Mui AC, Kang SY, Kang D, Domanski MD. English language proficiency and health-related quality of life among Chinese and Korean immigrant elders. Health Soc Work. 2007. 32(2):119–127.

18. Statistics Bureau of Jilin Province. Jilin statistical yearbook 2006. 2006. Jilin: China statistics Press.

19. Statistics Bureau of Jilin Province. Jilin statistical yearbook 2010. 2010. Jilin: China statistics Press.

20. Shin YH, Lee HJ. Factors associated with successful aging of Korean older people living in a city. J Korean Gerontol Soc. 2009. 29(4):1327–1340.

21. Speake DL, Cowart ME, Pellet K. Health perceptions and lifestyles of the elderly. Res Nurs Health. 1989. 12(2):93–100.

22. Sun YQ, Nan GR, Wang GR. Elderly chronic disease prevalence in the community. Chin J Health Stat. 2003. 20(6):380–381.

23. Tang D. The mediating effect of urban and rural residence in the model of depression among Chinese elderly. Popul Res. 2010. 34(3):53–63.

24. World Health Organization. Issue Brief NO. 9290610662. Ageing and health: A health promotion approach for developing countries. 2003. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

25. Xiao SY. "Social support rating scale" of the theoretical basis and application. J Clin Psychol Med. 1994. 4(2):98–100.

26. Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (n.d.). In baidubaike. Retrieved October 10, 2011. from http://baike.baidu.com/view/69884.htm.

27. Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, Lum O, Huang V, Adey M, et al. Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report. J Psychiatr Res. 1982. 17(1):37–49.

28. Yuan Q, He GP, Feng H, Gao Q. Changsha city community elderly depressive symptoms influencing factor analysis. Chin J Gerontol. 2010. 3(30):746–748.

29. Zhong X, Zhong YT. Research on psychological and social affecting factors in elder people with depression symptoms in alpine region. Jilin Med J. 2011. 32(8):1522–1523.

30. Zhang JH, Li YH. A comparative study on bilingual language policy in quebec and in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. Korean Rev Can Stud. 2007. 13(1):47–68.