SOCIAL SUPPORT AND DEPRESSION AMONG ELDERLY KOREAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED-STATES

Based on the integrative concept of social support, we investigated th e effects of quantitative, structural, and functional aspects of socia l relationships on the level of depressive symptoms among elderly Kore an immigrants, taking into account their level of acculturation and li fe stress. Korean elders having more close persons and more frequent c ontacts with them exhibited fewer depressive symptoms. Networks provid ing instrumental support consisted mainly of family ties; networks for emotional support included diverse relationships as well as family me mbers. Emotional support was found to moderate the harmful effect of l ife stress, and thus to be more relevant than instrumental support to the mental health of Korean elderly.