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Attitudes of Older Korean Americans Toward Mental Health Services
Author(s) -
Jang Yuri,
Kim Giyeon,
Hansen Lianne,
Chiriboga David A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01125.x
Subject(s) - mental health , medicine , marital status , ethnic group , residence , outreach , anxiety , suicidal ideation , gerontology , psychiatry , mental illness , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , poison control , environmental health , population , demography , sociology , anthropology , political science , law
Given the increasing evidence that older ethnic minorities underuse mental health services, the present study assessed determinants of attitudes toward mental health services with a sample of older Korean Americans (N=472). Adapting Andersen's behavioral health model, predisposing factors (age, sex, marital status, education, length of residence in the United States), mental health needs (anxiety, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms), and enabling factors (personal experiences and beliefs) were considered as potential predictors. Shorter residence in the United States and higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with more‐negative attitudes toward mental health services. Culture‐influenced personal beliefs (knowledge about mental illness and stigmatism) were found to play a substantial role in shaping individuals' attitudes toward mental health services. Findings call attention to the need to investigate how culture influences the response to mental health needs and to develop community education and outreach programs to close the gaps between mental health needs and service utilization in older ethnic minority populations.