Perceived Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms in International Migrants: A Study with Vietnamese Women in South Korea

Background and Purpose

A large proportion of global population still faces daily discrimination based on their race/ethnicity, age, gender, or social/psychological/physical status (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR]; Unite Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]), and one group that may go through such discriminatory experience is Vietnamese women who migrate to East Asian countries through cross-border marriages. The present study examined the impact of perceived discrimination on depressive symptoms. By using the social constructionism and stress appraisal model, the study conceptualized perceived discrimination as a potential source of stress which would negatively affect mental health of Vietnamese migrant women in South Korea.  

Methods

In the fall of 2013, 225 samples of Vietnamese women who migrated to South Korea through marriages participated self-administered surveys. After deleting 13 individuals who had more than 10% missing information on the variables, 212 samples were used in the final analysis. Multivariate regression model of perceived discrimination was used to test how background variables (age, education, perceived financial status, working outside of the home, length of stay in South Korea, and Korean speaking ability) were associated with the experience of discrimination. In addition, the model of depressive symptoms was estimated with the entry of (1) background variables and (2) perceived discrimination.

Results

About 62% of the sample reported at least one encounter in the 9 items of the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS). In the model of perceived discrimination, background variables explained 10% of the variance, with perceived income inadequacy being a significant predictor. In the model of depressive symptoms, the background variables accounted for 15% of the variance, with perceived income inadequacy and longer residence in South Korea being significant predictors. The additional entry of perceived discrimination contributed to explaining an extra 17% of the variance; the greater numbers of perceived discrimination were significantly related to higher levels of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion and Implications

Findings highlight the adverse mental health consequence of daily unfair treatment and disrespect in interpersonal contexts. Also, they provide implications for social policies and programs that may help promoting social awareness of diversity and multiculturalism in South Korea. Furthermore, given the importance of cognitive appraisal, the study suggest to develop ways to empower those migrant women and enhance their resilience and coping resources.