Depression among Korean, Korean American, and Caucasian American family caregivers

• Published in: Journal of transcultural nursing Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 18
• Main Authors: Lee, Eunice E, Farran, Carol J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Asian Americans - ethnology; Caregivers - psychology; Chicago - epidemiology; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - ethnology; Emigration and Immigration; European Continental Ancestry Group - ethnology; Family - ethnology; Female; Humans; Intergenerational Relations; Korea - epidemiology; Los Angeles - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Residence Characteristics; Severity of Illness Index; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Chicago; Los Angeles; Korea
• ISSN: 1043-6596
• DOI: 10.1177/1043659603260010

This study compared depressive symptoms among Korean, Korean American, and Caucasian American female family caregivers of older persons with dementia. The sample included Korean caregivers living in Seoul, Korea (KK); Korean American (KA) caregivers living in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas; and Caucasian American (CA) caregivers from the Chicago metropolitan area. KK caregivers were more likely to be daughters-in-law, KA caregivers were more likely to be daughters, and CA caregivers were more likely to be wives or daughters. Overall, wives were more depressed than daughters and daughters-in-law. KK caregivers were the most depressed of the three cultural groups. When caregiver relationship and cultural group were examined simultaneously, KK and KA wives were most depressed, and KA daughters-in-law were least depressed. Differences in culture and social role appeared to affect depressive symptoms among these caregivers. The findings suggest a need to further examine the associations between caregivers' relationships with their care recipients and their own emotional status.