Correlates of Depression among Older Kurdish Refugees

Datos Bibliográficos

ID10554455
AutoresS Cummings (University of Tennessee at Knoxville, autor de correspondencia), L Sull (University of Tennessee at Knoxville), Cindy Davis (0000-0003-4302-0733, University of Tennessee at Knoxville), N Worley, Natalie K Worley
Año2011
Volumen56
Número2
Páginas159-168
Fecha de publicación2011-04-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSocial Work (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0037-8046 • E-ISSN: 1545-6846
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/sw/56.2.159
PMID21553579
OpenAlexW1974156162
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas23
Referencias citadas7

Little is known about the psychological status of older refugees who have immigrated from war-torn areas in the Middle East. This study examined the nature and predictors of depression among older Kurds living in one city in the United States. Older Kurds (N = 70) were recruited and surveyed by trained Kurdish interviewers in their native dialect. The majority of participants had very low incomes; had no education; were illiterate in their own language; and had little to no ability to speak, read, or write English. Elevated levels of depression were found, with 67.1 percent scoring above the clinical cutoff for depression and 25.7 percent scoring in the severe depression range. Depression was associated with demographic (age), stressor (migratory grief, death of spouse, number of medical conditions, functional disability, and income), and coping (English proficiency and social support) variables. Health conditions exerted the greatest effect. Migratory grief and social support were also significant predictors of depression. Results suggest substantial psychological distress among this understudied population of older refugees. Implications for research and practice with older members of newly established refugee populations are discussed

Immigration · Library science · Political science · POLK · Refugee · Sociology · History · Law · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Gerontology · Social Work