Asian American Elders in the Twenty-first Century

Relationship quality and elder caregiver burden in India

“…Within the family system the amount of caregiving provided by individuals is a function of the social positions they occupy. As the number of social positions an individual occupies increases, caregivers are likely to experience both role conflict and role overload (Mui & Shibusawa, 2008). As a source of stressor, increases in role conflict are likely to increase caregiver burden.…”

Acculturative Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Immigrant Elders Residing in Non-Korean Ethnic Enclaves

“…In the process of acculturation, immigrants are constantly exposed to and challenged by acute and chronic stressors, which may negatively affect their psychological wellbeing. Prior studies have found that acculturative stressors are negatively associated with mental health among immigrants: Stressful life events (Diwan, Jonnalagadda, & Balaswamy, 2004;Shin et al, 2007), limited English proficiency (Chung, 2005;Diwan, 2008;Kuo & Tsai, 1986;Mui et al, 2007;Takeuchi et al, 2007), and chronic life strains including intergenerational conflicts and/or role changes in families (Mui, 1996;1998;Noh & Avison, 1996) and ambient strains such as poverty, lower socioeconomic status (Hovey, 2000;Mui & Shibusawa, 2008), and social discrimination (Noh & Kaspar, 2003). However, stressors do not give rise to stress unless they are appraised as stressful (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984).…”

“…Studies have examined the relationship between acculturative stress and depression among Asian immigrant elders (Kuo, 1984;Mui & Kang, 2006;Mui & Shibusawa, 2008), Chinese immigrant elders (Mui, 1996(Mui, , 1998, Japanese American elders (Shibusawa & Mui, 2002), and Korean American elders Jang & Chiriboga, 2010;Kang et al, 2009;Mui, 2000;Noh & Avison, 1996;Pang, 1995). Facing physical, psychological, social, and economic risk factors associated with aging, Asian immigrant elders also undergo difficulties associated with acculturation, including shorter lengths of residence in the United States, cultural conflicts, poorer health, more acculturative stress, more financial strain, limited English proficiency, dependence on family, social isolation, and lack of social support-all risk factors to depression (Casado & Leung, 2002;Han et al, 2007;Kang et al, 2009;Mui, 2000;Mui & Kang, 2006;Shibusawa & Mui, 2002;Stokes, Thompson, Murphy, & Gallagher-Thompson, 2002).…”

“…Studies have shown prevalent depressive symptoms among Asian immigrant elders Mui, 1996Mui, , 2000Mui & Kang, 2006;Mui & Shibusawa, 2008;Shibusawa & Mui, 2002;Stokes et al, 2002). Despite prevalence, Asian immigrant elders' depressive symptoms have been unrecognized and underserved by the health care providers (Casado & Leung, 2002;Mui, 2000).…”

“…Asian cultures do not encourage expression of mental illness since depression is viewed as "a hereditary taint of moral failure and constitutional vulnerability" (Kleinman, 1988, p. 109). Culturally Asian cultures consider self-disclosure to outsiders as stigmatized and the internal locusof-control and privacy as strength of personal characteristics (Mui & Shibusawa, 2008;Wong, Yoo, & Stewart, 2005;Yi & Tidwell, 2005). When facing a mental health problem, they usually internalize the problem and try to inhibit talking about it.…”