The Impact of Social Support and Sense of Self-Esteem in Predicting Depressive Symptoms Among Koreans in the United Sates

Background and Purpose:

The heightened levels of depressive symptoms among Koreans in the United States is disconcerting. The Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CES-D) score among Koreans in the United States ranges from 12.6 to 17.6. These CES-D scores much higher than not only many other ethnic groups in the United States, which range from 7.94 and 9.25, but also the national sample in Korea, which is estimated to be 10.57. Difficulties associated with acculturation experiences may have increased the psychological vulnerability of Korean immigrants. However, the ability of individual immigrants to cope with acculturation challenges should not be overlooked. The goal of this study is to examine the impact of two coping resources, social support and self-esteem, on depressive symptoms among Koreans in the United States. The following question guided the current study: What is the relative importance of social support, self-esteem, and the differences in individual characteristics on depressive symptoms?

Methods:

This cross-sectional study employed a non-probability sampling procedure. The participants were adult Koreans who immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 or older. In addition to individual characteristics, the data collection procedure involved a self-administered anonymous survey consisting of four standardized Korean language instruments. Data collected from 242 voluntary participants were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression (R²).

Results:

The hierarchical multiple regression (R²) analyses demonstrated that social support, self-esteem, and individual characteristics explained 23.3% of the variance in depressive symptoms [F (8, 217) = 9.53; p <.001]. The incremental change for each of the three blocks was statistically significant. In the first block, social support, when assessed separately from other variables, explained 10.63% of the variance in depressive symptoms. In the second block, when two coping resources were assessed together, self-esteem (11.9%) appeared to be a stronger predictor in comparison to social support (4.7%). In the third block, both social support (6.81%) and sense of self-esteem (10.11%) continually play significant roles in predicting the changes in depressive symptoms among Korean immigrants, whereas no individual characteristics were significantly related to depressive symptoms.

Conclusions and Implications:

The findings of the current study show the significant roles that both social support and self-esteem play in predicting the changes in depressive symptoms among Koreans in the United States. For many Korean immigrants, their ethnic communities become a critical source of social support and enhanced self-esteem by providing economic opportunities and a sense of ethnic solidarity and affinity. Through their affiliation with the ethnic communities, Korean immigrants navigate the meanings of their uprooting experiences and their existential alienation in the new environment. Based on their shared understanding of the acculturation experience and its associated challenges, Korean immigrants attain a sense of comfort. Moreover, while interacting with other members in their ethnic communities, Korean immigrants can find various forms of assistance including information and counseling on employment, business, and healthcare. Such positive experiences can ensure the psychological well-being of Korean immigrants by promoting both social support and a sense of self-esteem.