Perceived health, life satisfaction, and cardiovascular risk factors among elderly Korean immigrants and elderly Koreans.
Acknowledging that changes in sociocultural environment influence health status, the purpose of this study was to compare perceived health, life satisfaction, and cardiovascular health in elderly Korean immigrants and elderly Koreans. In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 88 elderly Korean immigrants and 295 elderly Koreans 65 and older were recruited from Korean communities in the United States and Korea. Respondents' perceived health was measured by self-assessment; life satisfaction was self-assessed using a dichotomous scale of general satisfaction with life; and cardiovascular health status was surveyed by self-report of major diagnosed cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus) and body mass index measurement for obesity. Despite having better perceived health and life satisfaction, elderly Korean immigrants also had higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. The findings provide health care providers with useful information for effective health assessment of minority immigrants.
College of Nursing, Seattle University, Seattle, WA 98122-1090, USA. sinm@seattleu.edu
Mo-Kyung
MK
Sin
Young-Ran
YR
Chae
Myoung-Ae
MA
Choe
Patrick
P
Murphy
Jeungim
J
Kim
Mi-Yang
MY
Jeon
D001213:Asian; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology