title: Friends, Depressive Symptoms, and Life Satisfaction Among Older Korean Americans.
abstract: This study examined the interactive effects of social network support and depressive symptoms on life satisfaction among older Korean Americans (KAs). Using data from a sample of 200 elders in a large metropolitan area (M age = 72.50, SD = 5.15), hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the interaction between social network support and depressive symptoms on life satisfaction among older KAs. After controlling for demographic variables, both social network support and depressive symptoms were identified as predictors for life satisfaction. Interaction effects indicated strong associations between higher social network support specifically from friends and lower depressive symptoms with higher levels of life satisfaction. Findings highlight the important role that friends play in terms of social network support for the mental health of older KAs, and the need for geriatric practitioners to monitor and assess the quality of social network support-including friendships-when working with older KAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, University of South Dakota, 1400 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA, Soonhee.Roh@usd.edu.
authors.forename: Soonhee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Yeon-Shim
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyoung Hag
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tazuko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibusawa
authors.forename: Grace J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology