Ethnic Senior Schools, Religion, and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Korean Immigrants in the United States: A Qualitative Study

Do religious activities among young–old immigrants act as a buffer against the effect of a lack of resources on well-being?

“…A Dutch study, in contrast, suggested that the inverse association of religion with depression was not selectively higher among people with physical impairment, low levels of mastery or chronic illness (Braam, Beekman, Van Tilburg, Deeg, & Van Tilburg, 1997). Similarly diverse are findings of studies among immigrant populations, with some studies indicating religion is especially beneficial to immigrants' well-being (Ciobanu & Fokkema, 2017;Kim, 2013;Roh, Lee, & Yoon, 2013), and others suggesting a strong religious identity is a source of polarization, and segregation that undermines the well-being of immigrants (Verkuyten & Yildiz, 2007). Therefore, it is not entirely clear whether findings of protective effects of religion also pertain to immigrant populations living with structural disadvantages in, for example, Western Europe.…”

Enoch Senior’s College for Korean Immigrant Seniors: Quality of Life Effects

“…Multiple barriers to accessing health and social care exist, most notably lack of fluency in English, cultural beliefs and practices, and immigrant status itself (Ahmad et al, 2004; Jang, Kim, & Chiriboga, 2005; Lai & Chau, 2007; Pourat, Lubben, Yu, & Wallace, 2000; Weerasinghe, 2012). Such barriers not only hinder immigrant older adults’ ability to seek and receive necessary care but also reduce social interactions (Kang, Basham, & Kim, 2013; Kim, 2013; Lai & Surood, 2008; Schaie & Pietrucha, 2000). These barriers and other stressors, such as acculturation, make elderly immigrants particularly vulnerable to poor psychological and physical health (Kang, Domanski, & Moon, 2009; Min, Moon, & Lubben, 2005; Mio, Barker-Hackett, & Tumambing, 2008).…”

“…The National Advisory Council on Aging (2005) has recommended proactive approaches to prevent social isolation, as cultural and linguistic barriers can be reduced through innovative programs to engage ethnic minority seniors more fully in group activities. Community-based programs targeting ethnic seniors have been effective in reaching out to various ethnic groups and have had numerous positive impacts on the participants’ health outcomes (Hau et al, 2016; Kim, 2016; Kim, 2013; Koehn, Habib, & Bukhari, 2016). One noteworthy program is the Seniors Support Services for South Asian Community (S 4 AC) program implemented in collaboration with the non-profit local United Way agency in British Columbia to improve access to existing facilities for South Asian older adults.…”

“…To Korean immigrants, the ethnic churches are “a core source of various social interactions” (Hwang, 2008, p. 214) that provide social network and resources via a wide range of services and scheduled programs including senior schools that offer various educational classes and recreational activities to elderly Koreans (Kim, 2016; Kim, 2013; Sin & Hirsch, 2013). The senior programs have a wider reach as they are not only for church congregations but also extend to Korean seniors in the community as a whole (Kim, 2016; Kim, 2013). Thus, these sites can serve as a venue for further exploration into the community of Korean seniors.…”

Newly Arrived Elderly Immigrants

“…These studies were conducted among groups with diverse backgrounds and reflect the heterogeneity among immigrants in the United States. Racial and ethnic categories included the following: Latinos/Hispanics (de Oca, Garcia, Saenz, & Guillen, 2011; Whaley & Paul-Ward, 2011), Asian Indians (Bhattacharya & Shibusawa, 2009; Kalavar & Van Willigen, 2005; Sharma & Kemp, 2012; Tummala-Narra, Sathasivam-Rueckert, & Sundaram, 2013), Koreans (Kauh, 1997; Kim, 2013; Son & Kim, 2006; Yoo & Zippay, 2011), Iranians (Martin, 2009a, 2009b), Africans (Darboe & Ahmed, 2007; Mbanaso & Crewe, 2011), and Cambodians (Lewis, 2009). Three additional studies involved people from multiple ethnicities (Becker, 2003; Treas, 2008; Treas & Mazumdar, 2002).…”