title: Social activity and depressive symptoms in Korean American older adults: the conditioning role of acculturation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the independent and interactive effects of acculturation and social activity on depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a sample of community-dwelling Korean American older adults (N = 675), hierarchical regression models of depressive symptoms were estimated with an array of predictors: (a) demographic variables, (b) health-related variables, (c) acculturation, (d) social activity, and (e) an interaction between acculturation and social activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for the effects of demographic and health-related variables, both acculturation and social activity were identified as significant predictors. Moreover, their interaction was significant (β = .09, p < .05). Further analysis showed that the beneficial effect of social activity on mental health was particularly strong among those with lower levels of acculturation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that enhancing opportunities for social engagement may serve to protect and promote the mental health of vulnerable older immigrants, particularly those who are less acculturated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. yjang@fmhi.usf.edu
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chiriboga
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D012931:Social Environment