Jung-won Lim1, Jaehee Yi, Brad Zebrack. 1. Center of Community Alliance for Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. JLim@coh.org
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study examines the direct and/or indirect pathways among acculturation, social support, depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) for Korean immigrant breast and gynecological cancer survivors. DESIGN: The QOL-Cancer Survivor measure was translated and then administered to 51 survivors. This tool measured acculturation by assessing westernization, language barriers, and length of stay. In addition, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 was used to assess depressive symptoms. Social support components were conceptualized as comprising both functional social support and social network structures. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling identified significant relationships among acculturation, social support, depressive symptoms, and QOL. Higher acculturation was associated with positive network structures (larger network size, diversity, and closer social ties) and lower depressive symptoms, which in turn contributed to better QOL. Simultaneously, positive social network structures strongly correlated with better emotional support and, thus, influenced lower depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence that acculturation influences QOL through social support for Korean immigrant cancer survivors should serve as a rationale for developing psychosocial interventions that enhance immigrant cancer survivors' social participation and adjustment in the unfamiliar US environment.
OBJECTIVES: This study examines the direct and/or indirect pathways among acculturation, social support, depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) for Korean immigrant breast and gynecological cancer survivors. DESIGN: The QOL-Cancer Survivor measure was translated and then administered to 51 survivors. This tool measured acculturation by assessing westernization, language barriers, and length of stay. In addition, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 was used to assess depressive symptoms. Social support components were conceptualized as comprising both functional social support and social network structures. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling identified significant relationships among acculturation, social support, depressive symptoms, and QOL. Higher acculturation was associated with positive network structures (larger network size, diversity, and closer social ties) and lower depressive symptoms, which in turn contributed to better QOL. Simultaneously, positive social network structures strongly correlated with better emotional support and, thus, influenced lower depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence that acculturation influences QOL through social support for Korean immigrant cancer survivors should serve as a rationale for developing psychosocial interventions that enhance immigrant cancer survivors' social participation and adjustment in the unfamiliar US environment.
Authors: Ding Ding; C Richard Hofstetter; Gregory J Norman; Veronica L Irvin; Douglas Chhay; Melbourne F Hovell Journal: Ethn Health Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: Nancy K Janz; Mahasin S Mujahid; Sarah T Hawley; Jennifer J Griggs; Amy Alderman; Ann S Hamilton; John Graff; Steven J Katz Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2009-09-16 Impact factor: 4.442
Authors: Pallav Pokhrel; Pebbles Fagan; Kevin Cassel; Dennis R Trinidad; Joseph Keawe'aimoku Kaholokula; Thaddeus A Herzog Journal: Am J Community Psychol Date: 2016-06