Path Model of Depression Among Armenian, Hispanic, and Korean Immigrants in Southern California

Purpose: Research has indicated that immigrants in general experience severe depressive symptoms due to the stresses associated with immigration. The purpose of this study is to extend current research on depression to Armenian, Hispanic, and Korean immigrants in southern California. Specifically, this study attempted to address the following questions: (1) What are the prevalence of depression among Armenian, Hispanic, and Korean immigrants?; (2) What are the significant predictors of depression?; and (3) What is the path model that is adequate for these immigrants?

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study employed nonprobability sampling that relies on available subjects. The sample consisted of 369 immigrants that include Armenians (n=122), Hispanic (n=117), and Korean (n=130). Data were collected through a survey questionnaire that measured depression (CES-D), level of acculturation, age, age of migration, length of US residence, marital status, education level, employment status, and household income.

Results: Descriptive analysis indicated that more than half of the study subjects (52%, n=192) were considered as experiencing depressive symptoms with a CES-D score of 16 or higher (M=18.12, SD=10.74). Comparison of the ethnic groups showed that Armenians were slightly more depressed than Koreans or Hispanics, but these group differences were not statistically significant.

Regression analysis yielded that level of acculturation (R² change=0.074, p<0.0001) and marital status (R² change=0.02, p=0.005) were the variables that explained a significant amount of variance in depression. Examining each ethnic group identified different variables as significant predictor(s) of depression: level of acculturation for Armenians, household income and education level for Koreans, and level of acculturation, age of immigration, and marital status for Hispanics. Path analysis presented that level of acculturation (standardized coefficient= -0.270, p=0.004) and marital status (standardized coefficient= 0.151, p=0.023) had significant direct effects on depression. Also, English proficiency (standardized coefficient= -0.194, p=0.003), length of US residence (standardized coefficient= -0.028, p=0.008), and gender (standardized coefficient=-0.020, p=0.013) had significant indirect effects on depression through level of acculturation. The path model adequately fit the data (chi-square=2.293, df=6, p=0.89) and explained significant amount of the total variance in depression (R²= 0.096, p=0.008). Additional fit indexes also indicated adequate model fit with GFI, TLI, and CFI all greater than 0.90, RMSEA less than 0.50, and SRMR less than 0.08. Multiple group analysis showed that this model better explained Armenians and Hispanics than Koreans.

Implications: The findings that indicated high prevalence of depression among Armenian, Hispanic, and Korean immigrants suggest that needs assessment for these populations needs to be more active than just based on the utilization rate of the facilities, and any barriers for them to access public services need to be addressed. In addition, the findings that different variables were identified as significant predictors of depression for different ethnic groups and that a path model that fits one ethnic group does not consistently fit the other suggest that future research needs to be conducted to develop a unique model that addresses the needs for each ethnic population.