title: Daily spiritual experiences, social support, and depression among elderly Korean immigrants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the associations of daily spiritual experiences (DSE) and social support with depression to find viable coping resources and enhance the quality of life among elderly Korean immigrants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used Smith's (2003) theory of religious effects and Baron and Kenny's (1986) approach for mediation analysis to explain the mediating role of social support between DSE and depression. The sample consisted of 200 elderly Korean immigrants who were aged 65 or older (mean age = 72.5, range = 65-89) living in the New York City Metropolitan area. Hierarchical regression model was used with SPSS version 17.0 to analyze cross-sectional data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elderly Korean immigrants in the present sample were found to be moderately engaged in DSE but not experiencing a fair level of social support. Respondents reported no depression on the average but 30% of them (60 out of 200 respondents) were experiencing mild to severe depression. Both DSE and social support were inversely related with depression, and the relationship between DSE and depression was mediated by social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are only suggestive and should not be generalized to a larger population. However, this study supports the importance of DSE and social support in the life of elderly Korean immigrants as a way to alleviate depression. Mental health professionals may consider facilitating social network when elderly Korean immigrants suffer from depression.
authors.affiliation: Samsung Life Retirement Research Center, Seoul, South Korea. jisung.park@samsung.com
authors.forename: Jisung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soonhee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roh
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009519:New York City / Q000208:ethnology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality