Relationship between coping strategies and depression among employed Korean immigrant wives

Coping strategies, such as working harder and negotiation, may have an effect on depression for employed Korean immigrant wives. Additionally, income and education have been associated with depression in previous research. A cross-sectional survey research design was used to explore which coping strategies and demographic variables were significantly related to depression for employed Korean immigrant wives. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that coping strategies and demographic variables accounted for 24% of the variance in depression. Specifically, as wives worked harder cleaning the house, their depression increased, whereas when they negotiated with their husbands, they were less likely to be depressed. To enhance negotiation among Korean wives, mental health nurses need to work within the community to foster the development of cultural and traditional norms that sanction negotiation between husbands and wives.     

Spousal perspective of Parkinson's disease in middle life

An interpretive study in America explored the experience of living with a partner who has Parkinson's disease (PD) in middle life. Challenges experienced by eight spouses and their ways of coping with these challenges were examined. The convenience sample of five wives and three husbands were 44-58 years and had been married 4 months to 30 years. Spouses described the most significant challenges as watching their partner struggle and be frustrated; and renegotiating their lives. The coping strategies most frequently used were maintaining their own life, encouraging their partner to stay active and involved, and seeing the challenges they experienced as secondary. The context of living with a partner with Parkinson's disease is illuminated and strategies that spouses find most effective in coping with their partners illness are identified.     

Evaluations of emotional reactions and coping behaviors as well as correlated factors for infertile couples receiving assisted reproductive technologies

The purpose of this research was to explore the following objectives for infertile couples receiving infertility treatment: Differences between wives and husbands in their emotional reactions and coping behaviors. This research, using structured questionnaires, was based on 120 infertile couples attending the Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or the In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) program. The research instruments consisted of Demographic Data Form, Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The research results showed that infertile wives experienced more emotional disturbance than husbands did, as shown in the four subscales of Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Dejection, Anger-Hostility, and Fatigue-Inertia, as well as the total scale of POMS. It was also shown that wives adopted more coping behaviors to deal with infertility and treatment than husbands did, as revealed in the subscales of Self-Controlling, Seeking Social Support and Escape-Avoidance and the total scale of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. All of the above reached significant statistical differences. The emotional reactions of infertile couples varied with the differences in education levels, duration of treatment, number of treatments received, and numbers of existing children. The emotional reactions of infertile husbands had a significantly positive correlation with the factors Confronting, Accepting Responsibility, and Escape-Avoidance. The emotional reactions of wives had a significantly negative correlation with Positive Reappraisal. The research results can provide clinical staff with a correct understanding of the differences between husbands and wives in emotional reactions and coping behavior, as well as related factors, to help them to provide better medical treatment.     

Predictive factors of depression among Asian female marriage immigrants in Korea

This study investigated the prevailing rate of depression in female marriage immigrants in Korea and the predictive factors of their rates of depression. The study included 316 foreign female marriage immigrant participants. Four instruments yielded the data: the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and questionnaires regarding the participants' Korean language ability and demographic data. The survey scales were translated into Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and English. The data collection was conducted by a face-to-face interview and translators were used when needed. The female marriage immigrants were found to have higher depression rates than women in the general Korean population. The predictive factors of depression for the female marriage immigrants included their country of origin, Korean speaking ability, and family support. Far more depression was found to occur in the Chinese participants, while the rate of depression was lower in those with competent Korean speaking ability and family support. An exploration of strategies to improve the speaking ability and family support of female marriage immigrants will be necessary in order to decrease their incidence of depression and the strategies should be differentiated based on the female marriage immigrants' country of origin.     

Predictors of depression among wife caregivers

The relationship of caregiver health, past marital adjustment, and received social support to depression was studied in 78 wives who served as primary caregivers to husbands with irreversible memory impairment. In addition, socioeconomic status and attitudes toward seeking help were investigated. The mean age of the wives was 68 years, and the mean length of time they had been caring for their husbands in the home was 4 years, 10 months. Only caregiver health and attitude toward asking for help were significant, p = .001, predictors of depression and accounted for 27% of the total explained variance.     

Factors associated with depression experience of immigrant populations: a study of Korean immigrants

A correlational, cross-sectional study with multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors that influence the depression experience in 154 Korean immigrants. Based on the stress-health outcome framework, four variables (i.e., sense of mastery, socioeconomic status, social support, and acculturation) were tested for their mediating effects between stress and depression experienced by Korean Americans. Path analyses showed that the negative effect of life stress on depression was buffered by higher levels of sense of mastery and social support in the Korean sample. Implications for future cross-cultural depression research and preventive strategies against depression in immigrant populations are discussed.     

Experience of musculoskeletal pain. Comparison of immigrant and Swedish patient

We explored differences regarding several psychosocial constructs (e.g. coping with pain) between immigrant (n = 140) and Swedish (n = 446) patients seeking treatment for pain at health and physiotherapy centres. A cross-sectional study design was used. The findings showed that, compared with Swedes, immigrants more often relied on benefits for their support and were more concerned with their financial situation. They also had longer periods of sick-leave. In addition, immigrants felt more disabled, reported more job strain and relied more on passive coping strategies for pain. Finally, they were more emotionally distressed, as they showed more symptoms of burnout, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress reactions, and lower self-confidence. Multivariate analyses performed separately for immigrant and Swedish patients showed differential patterns of associations between sociodemographic variables, financial strain, emotional distress, perceived disability, passive coping and job strain. We conclude that immigrant patients live under more strained psychosocial conditions and experience a deeper impact of pain than do their Swedish counterparts.     

Concordance of Couples' Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendations from a Decision Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether different utilities for prostate cancer screening outcomes for couples, and husbands and wives separately, lead to incongruent screening recommendations. METHODS: We evaluated survey results of 168 married couples from three family practice centers in Texas, USA. Utilities for eight adverse outcomes of prostate cancer screening and treatment were assessed using the time trade-off method. We assessed utilities separately for each partner and jointly for each couple. Using a previously published decision-analytic model of prostate cancer screening, we input the husband's age (starting point) and utilities for outcomes from the husband's, wife's, and couple's perspectives (to adjust for quality of life). Both group-level and individualized models were run. We also asked husbands (and wives) if they intended to be screened (or have their husbands screened) for prostate cancer in the future. RESULTS: Husbands' lower tolerance for adverse outcomes (lower utilities) was associated with lower quality-adjusted life expectancy (than their wives) for the choice of screening versus not screening. Depending on the perspective, 48 husbands (28.6%), 89 wives (53.0%), and 58 couples (34.5%) preferred screening in the individual decision-analytic models. Comparing the three perspectives, agreement in model recommendations was greatest between the husbands and the couples (82.1%), intermediate between the wives and couples (63.7%), and lowest between the husbands and wives (55.4%). Using group-aggregated utilities in the decision-analytic model tended to mask the variation in recommended strategies amongst individuals. There was no relationship between screening preferences from the model and the husbands' and wives' reported desire for screening, as the majority of subjects wanted screening. CONCLUSIONS: Discordant health preferences may yield conflicting recommendations for prostate cancer screening. The results have broad implications for informed healthcare decision making for couples.     

Loneliness and depression in caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders

Secondary analysis of data from a sample of 242 husbands, wives, and daughters providing care for Alzheimer's disease family members was conducted to examine the relationships among loneliness and depression and the following variables: quality of the past relationship, relational deprivation, quality of the current relationship, and distance felt due to caregiving. Loneliness was significantly related to depression (r = .66, p < .001), relational deprivation (r = .36, p < .001), and quality of the current relationship (r = .34, p < .001), indicating that the more loneliness reported by the caregivers, the more the caregiver experienced depression, relational deprivation, and a poorer quality of the current relationship. Significant gender differences were found with the caregiving wives and daughters reporting higher mean scores than caregiving husbands on relational deprivation, loneliness, and depression. Loneliness was the only variable significant for predicting depression in caregiving husbands, wives, and daughters. In order for loneliness and depression to be addressed in the Alzheimer's disease caregiver, they must first be recognized by nurses.     

LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION IN CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR RELATED DISORDERS

Secondary analysis of data from a sample of 242 husbands, wives, and daughters providing care for Alzheimer's disease family members was conducted to examine the relationships among loneliness and depression and the following variables: quality of the past relationship, relational deprivation, quality of the current relationship, and distance felt due to caregiving. Loneliness was significantly related to depression (r=.66, p&lt;.001), relational deprivation (r=.36, p&lt;.001), and quality of the current relationship (r=.34, p&lt;.001), indicating that the more loneliness reported by the caregivers, the more the caregiver experienced depression, relational deprivation, and a poorer quality of the current relationship. Significant gender differences were found with the caregiving wives and daughters reporting higher mean scores than caregiving husbands on relational deprivation, loneliness, and depression. Loneliness was the only variable significant for predicting depression in caregiving husbands, wives, and daughters. In order for loneliness and depression to be addressed in Alzheimer's disease caregivers, they must first be recognised by nurses.     

Marital Adjustment and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Americans

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the quality of marital adjustment and depressive symptoms in Korean American couples. Fifty-three wives and 19 husbands reported on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression Scale. Results from linear regression indicated a negative relationship between marital adjustment and depressive symptoms at a significant level for wives and near significant for husbands. The model explained 15% of the variance in wives’ depressive symptoms. The negative impact of marital adjustment on depressive symptoms indicates that Korean American couples’ marital adjustments need to be addressed.     

Symptom manifestations and expressions among Korean immigrant women suffering with depression

Title. Symptom manifestations and expressions among Korean immigrant women suffering with depression Aim. This paper is a report of a study to investigate the culture‐specific symptom manifestation and expression of depression in Korean immigrant women in the United States of America (USA). Background. The literature indicates that Korean immigrants to the USA report higher levels of depressive symptoms than immigrants from other Asian ethnic groups, and women immigrants tend to encounter more gender‐related emotional difficulties. However, because of traditional cultural beliefs, immigrants may not seek treatment for depression and, when they do, tend to leave treatment prematurely. Methods. We used an ethnographic method based on Spradley’s Developmental Research Sequence with a sample of 17 Korean immigrant women who scored mild‐to‐severe depression on a Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Inventory Scale. Data were collected from 2005 to 2006, and consisted of tape‐recorded interviews, field notes and diaries. Findings. Depressive symptoms were complex, intertwined and felt in all domains of the person’s existence. They were expressed mainly through emotional and physical suffering, and the expression of suffering as a way of life. Themes elicited were emotional entrapment, shame and failure as women, disappointment at not being able to live a normal life and emotional restraint, as emotions were not generally expressed verbally but instead were expressed somatically, bodily and metaphorically. Conclusion. Being aware of culture‐specific symptoms of depression among Korean immigrant women can assist nurses in caring for them and thus improving their therapeutic alliances and preventing them from prematurely terminating treatment.     

Marital adjustment and depressive symptoms in Korean Americans

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the quality of marital adjustment and depressive symptoms in Korean American couples. Fifty-three wives and 19 husbands reported on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression Scale. Results from linear regression indicated a negative relationship between marital adjustment and depressive symptoms at a significant level for wives and near significant for husbands. The model explained 15% of the variance in wives' depressive symptoms. The negative impact of marital adjustment on depressive symptoms indicates that Korean American couples' marital adjustments need to be addressed.     

Spousal adjustment to chronic illness

Knowledge of differences between men and women in adjustment to a chronically ill partner should be of interest to nurses concerned with the rehabilitation of families. Individual characteristics (demographic variables, social and economic resources) and disease-related factors were examined to determine their effects on adjustment. The sample consisted of 33 husbands and 47 wives with ill partners, purposively selected from a variety of sources and representing a variety of chronic illnesses. Although there were no significant differences between the two groups on adjustment measures, item analysis of the scales revealed that wives more often than husbands were dissatisfied with their present lives (51% vs. 41%) and sometimes wanted to leave home (26% vs. 9%). Husbands, more often than wives, experienced difficulty sleeping (30% vs. 23%) and fatigue upon awakening (27% vs. 17%). Both groups reported the greatest gains in the homemaker and spouse roles with husbands reporting the larger gains. For husbands, 4 of 10 social resource variables, 3 of 14 economic resource variables, and 5 of 10 disease-related factors were significant correlates of adjustment, compared with 6 social resource variables, 10 economic resource variables, and 6 disease-related factors for wives. In general, variables relating to the psychosocial adjustments for husbands and wives were different. These findings could provide a basis for assessment of gender differences in spouse adjustment to chronic illnesses.     

Depression and Attachment in Couples

Previous research demonstrated that depression is associated with attachment insecurity. The present study examined the association between adult attachment and depression in couples, both concurrently and longitudinally. We tested the hypothesis that, when one partner is depressed, both partners will be insecurely attached, particularly when the wife's depression is chronic. Self-reported ratings of attachment were collected in a sample of couples in which wives met DSM-III-R criteria for depression in the past year (N = 52) and in a normative sample of couples (N = 60). The course of the women's episodes also was followed over a 6-month period. Depressed women reported more fearful attachment than did women in the normative sample. Overall, the husbands of the depressed women were not more likely to report insecure attachment. However, husbands of women diagnosed with chronic depression reported less attachment security than did husbands of women with discrete episodes of depression. In addition, husbands' insecurity predicted the maintenance of their wives' depressive symptoms over the follow-up period.     

If I was going to kill myself, I wouldn't be calling you. I am asking for help: challenges influencing immigrant and refugee women's mental health

It is estimated that 37% of Canadians experience some types of mental health problem. As a result of the migration process, many immigrant and refugee women suffer serious mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide, and psychosis. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study, informed by the ecological conceptual framework and postcolonial feminist perspectives, was to increase understanding of the mental health care experiences of immigrant and refugee women by acquiring information regarding factors that either support or inhibit coping. Ten women (five born in China and five born in Sudan) who were living with mental illness were interviewed. Analysis revealed that (a) women's personal experience with biomedicine, fear, and lack of awareness about mental health issues influences how they seek help to manage mental illness; (b) lack of appropriate services that suit their needs are barriers for these women to access mental health care; and (c) the women often draw upon informal support systems and practices and self-care strategies to cope with their mental illnesses and its related problems. The authors discuss implications for practice and make recommendations for intervention strategies that will facilitate women's mental health care and future research.     

Impact of a husband's chronic illness (COPD) on the spouse's life

This study was conducted to determine the impact of a husband's chronic illness on the spouse's life. The sample was 76 married women, 46 whose husbands had a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 30 whose husbands did not have a chronic illness. On a mailed questionnaire wives of COPD patients reported higher subjective stress (p = .032) and lower life satisfaction (p = .006) than the wives whose husbands did not have a chronic illness. The COPD wives assumed more new roles and responsibilities, relinquished more social activities, rated their health lower, and reported less frequent marital relations. Implications for future research are addressed.     

Stressors related to depression among elderly Korean immigrants

While depression in the elderly is well documented, little is known about depression in specific groups of immigrant elderly. In this study, 160 elderly Korean immigrants completed measures of depression, stressful life events, acculturative stress, family relationships, social support, and demographic variables. Findings revealed that income, acculturative stress, and living place were significant predictors of depression. As income declined, depression increased; living with one's adult children was associated with less depression; depression increased in concert with acculturative stress. These findings suggest that maintaining family relationships may be a key factor in preventing and/or lessening depression in elderly Korean immigrants.