Multidimensional measures of acculturation and ethnic attachment as predictors of depressive symptoms in two populations of Korean-Americans.

Abstract

Acculturation has been characterized as an important variable in the mental health of ethnic migrant groups. This dissertation developed and assessed multidimensional measures of acculturation and ethnic attachment for Korean Americans based on a random sample of first-generation immigrants from Chicago (N = 622) and a sample of students from the University of Michigan (UMI) (N = 206). Factor analysis revealed four interpretable acculturation factors and six ethnic attachment factors among the Chicago sample. Five distinct acculturation factors and three ethnic attachment factors emerged among the UMI sample with Cronbach alpha estimates for each of the factors ranging from very high to moderate. In both samples, the results supported a multidimensional conceptualization of acculturation. Also, the results obtained provided evidence supporting the validity of the scale, which is promising for measuring level of acculturation among Korean American populations. Additional analysis considered the associations between acculturation, ethnic attachment, and depressive symptoms. Acculturation was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms: English familiarity was found to be negatively associated, while adoption of American appearances and having individualistic values were positively related. Ethnic attachment appeared beneficial--preserving Korean heritage and interacting with Korean friends were negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Acculturation and ethnic attachment measures showed similar effects for men and women. Bicultural (integration) mode of adaptation had the lowest predicted CES-D score (10.6), while the marginal mode of adaptation had the highest score (13.5). Finally, three cultural value scales: the Traditional (Korean or Confucian) Value Scale (TVS), the Independent Self-Construal Scale (IND-SCS), and the Interdependent Self-Construal Scale (INT-SCS) were investigated for construct validity and association with depressive symptoms. There were several significant associations between CES-D scores and the cultural value scales, when examined individually controlling only for demographic variables. Specifically, IND-SCS (that matches the expectation of the American society) was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, while the TVS and the INT-SCS were positively related.