title: The impact of acculturation on depression among older Muslim immigrants in the United States.
abstract: Using a cross-sectional design, this study utilized a self-administered survey to examine the relationship between acculturation, physical and emotional health, health locus of control (LOC), life events and depression among a convenient sample of 70 immigrant Muslim elderly in United States of America. In addition to demographic variables, 5 standardized measures including the Vancouver Index of Acculturation, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD), Iowa Self-Assessment Inventory, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and the Geriatric Scale of Recent Life Events were utilized in this study. The results showed that about 50% of participants reported a score of 16 and above on the CESD scale, indicating a presence of depressive symptoms. In addition, most participants identified with their heritage culture compared to the American culture. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed 4 significant predictors of depression: cognitive status (β = -.34, p < .01), heritage culture (β = .35, p < .01), physical health (β = -.27, p < .05), and internal health locus of control (β = -.25, p < .05). These factors explain about 37% of the total variance in levels depression (R = .61).
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. sabu-bader@howard.edu
authors.forename: Soleman H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Abu-Bader
authors.forename: M Taqi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tirmazi
authors.forename: Fariyal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ross-Sheriff
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology