Acculturation, Perceived Discrimination and Depression among Korean Nurses in the United States

This study sought to investigate the process of acculturation, perceived discrimination, and depression of Korean nurses, with the aim of presenting preliminary data for the development of clinical practice adaptation programs that will help these nurses to better acculturate, thereby promoting their mental health. Data were collected from 137 nurses through self-report questionnaire (either paper or online) from June to September 2012. Of the four types of acculturation, assimilation significantly differed by total nursing career length and the length of nursing career in the United States. Separation also differed by perceived health status. Depression significantly differed by total nursing career length, type of employment setting, and perceived health status. Depression was negatively correlated with assimilation and integration, and positively correlated with separation and perceived discrimination. Perceived discrimination was negatively correlated with integration, and positively correlated with marginalization. The factors that significantly influenced depression were marginalization, perceived health status, and assimilation, which together explained 21.1% of the total variance. To facilitate acculturation and decrease depression among Korean nurses, it will be necessary to provide Korean nurses with supportive programs and resources and to manage their depression. Such programs should be tailored to the acculturation style and levels of depression of the participants.