Stressors, Coping, and Health Among Korean Immigrant Elders: Gender Differences

Purpose: Korean women immigrant elders had fewer socioeconomic resources than men elders because of strong patriarchy and Confucianism (Min, Moon, & Lubben, 2005). For this reason, Korean women immigrant elders may have more socioeconomic stress, psychological distress, and health problems than men elders. Many previous studies found that generally women have higher risks of health problems than men (Cummings & Jackson, 2008; Lee & Bountziouka, 2009). Some research found that a perceived cultural gap, stressful life events, and living alone were significantly related to the health of Asian older adult immigrants (Lee, Moon, & Knight, 2004; Mui & Kang, 2006). However, little is known about the different impact of acculturation stressors, socioeconomic stressors, and coping resources on the health of Korean men and women immigrant elders. Thus, this study attempted to get information for the issue.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey study used a purposive sampling method to recruit 246 Korean immigrant elders 65 years old or older living in California. From June to July 2008, face-to-face interviews lasting 40 to 50 minutes were conducted in Korean. To measure the dependent variables: physical/social functioning and role limitations, this study used the Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire. In terms of independent variables, for acculturation and socioeconomic variables, this study included losing a spouse, financial problems, lack of transportation, lack of English proficiency, and length of residency in the USA. To measure social support and spirituality, it used the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Brief Multidimensional Measures of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS). This study used Chi-square, t-test, and Hierarchical regression methods for data analyses.

Results: Chi-square and t-test results showed that Korean women immigrant elders were significantly more likely than men elders to have stressors (an English language barrier, losing a spouse, living alone, and a lack of transportation), coping recourses (private religious practices and religious/spiritual coping), and health problems (physical functioning problems and role limitations). Hierarchical regression results showed that an English language barrier was significantly related to lower physical functioning and social functioning as well as higher role limitations of Korean women immigrant elders compared to those of men elders. In addition, a lack of transportation was significantly related to lower physical functioning and social functioning as well as higher role limitations of Korean women immigrant elders compared to those of men elders.

Implications: Korean women immigrant elders have lower physical and social functioning and higher role limitations influenced by acculturation and socioeconomic stressors compared to Korean men immigrant elders in a new society. They also may have more difficulties accessing appropriate social or health care services because of the lack of English proficiency or lack of transportation compared to men elders. More bilingual staff members, who have cultural competence, are needed in social service agencies and health care services. In addition, appropriate transportation services are necessary. Increase of bilingual staff members or translations services and transportation services may help Korean women immigrant elders to increase physical/social functioning and roles in a new society.