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Health Vulnerability of Immigrants with Limited English Proficiency: A Study of Older Korean Americans
Author(s) -
Jang Yuri,
Yoon Hyunwoo,
Park Nan Sook,
Chiriboga David A.
Publication year - 2016
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/jgs.14199
Subject(s) - medicine , limited english proficiency , immigration , gerontology , confidence interval , multivariate analysis , depression (economics) , mental health , vulnerability (computing) , demography , cross sectional study , population , environmental health , health care , psychiatry , computer security , macroeconomics , archaeology , pathology , sociology , computer science , economics , history , economic growth
Objectives To examine the extent to which limited English proficiency ( LEP ) poses a risk to physical and mental health, using older Korean Americans as a target population. Design Cross‐sectional survey. Participants Older Korean Americans (N = 1,301). Measurements Health outcomes were indexed using binary variables covering activity limitation, self‐rated health, and probable depression. Participants who reported that they spoke English less than very well were categorized as manifesting LEP . Results Approximately 71% of the sample had LEP . Those with LEP scored lower on all measures of health than their English‐proficient counterparts. In multivariate models, the risk of having activity limitations was 2.72 times as great (95% confidence interval ( CI ) = 1.72–4.29, P < .001), a fair or poor rating of health 2.59 times as great (95% CI = 1.91–3.49, P < .001), and probable depression 1.73 times as great (95% CI = 1.29–2.31, P < .001) in participants with LEP . Conclusion Limited English proficiency was identified as a critical source of health vulnerability. Systematic efforts should be made to reach out to older immigrants with LEP and include them in health‐related research and prevention and intervention programs.