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Depressive Symptom Severity and Immigration-Related Characteristics in Asian American Immigrants

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Abstract

The study examined immigration factors associated with depressive symptom severity among Asian American immigrants. Participants were 458 Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese adults. Depressive symptom severity was measured by PHQ-9. Overall, the likelihood of being moderately to severely depressed was significantly increased among immigrants living in the US for < 10 years and Korean Americans compared to Chinese Americans. However, mild level of depressive symptoms was not associated with any immigration-related factors. The positive impact of shorter duration of living in the US and a younger age at immigration (≤ 17) on depressive symptoms was evident among women but not among men. For men, marital status and education level were significant predictors of being moderately to severely depressed. Differentiating immigrant factors and identifying depressive symptom severity can help drive community and clinical interventions to detect and treat depression early among Asian American immigrants.

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Funding

The project was supported by TUFCCC/HC Regional Comprehensive Cancer Health Disparity Partnership, Award Number U54 CA221704(5) from the National Cancer Institute [Contact PIs: Grace X. Ma, PhD and Olorunseun O. Ogunwobi, PhD] and faculty research funds from Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University [PI: Grace X Ma, PhD]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Center for Asian Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Minsun Lee, Aisha Bhimla & Grace X. Ma

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, 3440 N Broad St., Kresge Bldg, Ste. 325, Philadelphia, PA, 19140-4106, USA

    Grace X. Ma

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  1. Minsun Lee
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  2. Aisha Bhimla
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Correspondence to Minsun Lee.

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Lee, M., Bhimla, A. & Ma, G.X. Depressive Symptom Severity and Immigration-Related Characteristics in Asian American Immigrants. J Immigrant Minority Health 22, 935–945 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01004-7

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