'Researchers speculate that depression tends to be more prevalent among immigrant elders due to their lack of resources, acculturation stress, language problems, and social isolation. However, other characteristics of elderly immigrants, such as the healthy immigrant effect, may counteract these potential risk factors,' scientists writing in the journal Aging & Mental Health report.
'This study examined whether depressive symptoms differed between Chinese immigrant elders and their counterparts in China and whether health conditions were similarly associated with depressive symptoms in these two samples. Depression and health information was collected from 177 Chinese immigrant elders in Boston, the US in 2000 and from 428 education and gender-matched elders in Shanghai, China in 2003. Chinese immigrants had a significantly lower score on the modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and its subscales: somatic symptoms and depressive affect. The association remained for the subscale depressive affect in multivariate analyses. Arthritis and back or neck problems were associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms among Chinese immigrants, while problems in walking were associated with depression among their counterparts in China. Pain was an underlying contributor to the association between depression and these health problems in both the groups. This study suggests that Chinese immigrant elders might be more resilient than their counterparts despite many challenges they face after moving abroad,' wrote B. Wu and colleagues, University of North Carolina.
The researchers concluded: 'With the growing number of older Chinese immigrants in the US, a better understanding of depressive symptoms is essential to provide culturally competent services to better serve this population.'
Wu and colleagues published their study in Aging & Mental Health (Depressive symptoms and health problems among Chinese immigrant elders in the US and Chinese elders in China. Aging & Mental Health, 2010;14(6):695-704).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting B. Wu, University of North Carolina, Gerontology Program, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA.
The publisher of the journal Aging & Mental Health can be contacted at: Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd., 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, Oxfordshire, England.
Keywords: City:Greensboro, State:NC, Country:United States, Asia, China, Depression, Mental Health
This article was prepared by China Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, China Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.
