Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Older Korean Immigrants

• Published in: Research in gerontological nursing Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 283 - 292
• Main Authors: Choi, Sarah E, Reed, Preston L, Sarkisian, Catherine A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SLACK INCORPORATED 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Asian Americans; Bilingualism; Comorbidity; Depression - complications; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Female; Gender differences; Humans; Immigrants; Male; Mental depression; Middle age; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Older people; Population; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Republic of Korea - ethnology; Sex Factors; United States; Women; United States; Republic of Korea; United States > US; South Korea
• ISSN: 1940-4921; 1938-2464
• DOI: 10.3928/19404921-20130820-01

This study examined age and gender differences in the relationship between diabetes-specific quality of life (DQOL) and depressive symptoms among Korean immigrants with type 2 diabetes. In this cross-sectional study, 160 Korean immigrants ages 40 to 80 with diabetes were assessed for depressive symptoms, DQOL, and related demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. The relationship between DQOL and depressive symptoms was stronger for men than women. Whereas there were no main effects of age or gender in predicting depressive symptoms, there was a significant three-way interaction between gender, age (middle-aged or older), and DQOL on depressive symptoms, with older men demonstrating the strongest positive association between DQOL and depression. Age and gender differences should be considered for DQOL and depressive symptoms in Korean immigrants with diabetes. Efforts to address DQOL may likely have the greatest impact in decreasing depressive symptoms when targeted to older male Korean immigrants. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2013; 6(4):283–292.]