The Impacts of Life Events on Depression in Later Life in Older Hmong Immigrants

 生活事件对老年苗族移民晚年抑郁的影响先前的研究表明，生活经历和社会支持是晚年生活心理健康状况的预测因素。尽管之前的研究已经确定，在美国的东南亚人中，心理健康是一个主要的公共卫生问题，但我们缺乏关于他们的生活事件可能如何影响他们的心理健康状况的信息，特别是在他们晚年的生活中。本研究将从迁入前、迁入过渡期、迁徙后三个人生阶段，专门探讨老年苗族移民的生活经历。 这项研究从理论上受到压力过程模型的影响，该模型确定了早期生活经历和压力对晚年健康结果的影响。特别关注的是移徙过程扰乱家庭和部族网络的方式，在这一群体中，家庭和部族网络是身份和福祉的核心。研究的初始阶段将检查这些 生活经历及其对报告的抑郁症经历的影响程度。研究的第二阶段将包括在苗族老年移民中验证心理健康工具。对于这个项目，将采用定性和定量相结合的方法。定性方法将允许深入了解参与者一生中发生的事件，以及这些事件如何影响以后的生活中的抑郁。扎根理论将作为分析数据的框架。定性部分将在加利福尼亚州进行。为了验证霍普金斯症状清单-10(HSCL-10)项目清单，将在加利福尼亚州和明尼苏达州收集定量数据。这一建议项目直接回应了老龄化研究领域增加多样性的要求和需要。苗族老年移民收入低，受教育程度低，健康状况不佳，也是美国最脆弱的人群之一。这个项目的发现将提供非常必要的信息，以充分了解他们的生命历程和目前在心理健康方面的晚年适应。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Impacts of Life Events on Depression in Later Life in Older Hmong Immigrants Previous research demonstrates that life experiences and social support are predictors of later life mental health status. Although previous studies have established mental health as a major public health concern among Southeast Asians in the U.S., we lack information about ways in which their life events may contribute to their mental health status, especially in later life. This study will focus specifically on older Hmong immigrants' life experiences from three life phases: pre-migration, transition, and post-migration. The study is theoretically informed by the Stress Process Model, which identifies early life experiences and stresses as contributing to late-life health outcomes. Special focus is directed toward ways in which the migration process disrupted family and clan networks, which in this population are central to identity and well-being. The initial phase of research will examine these life experiences and the extent to which they have impacted reported experiences with depression. A second phase of the research will include validation of a mental health instrument among older Hmong immigrants. For this project, both qualitative and quantitative methods will be employed. The qualitative method will allow for an in-depth understanding of events that occurred throughout the participants' life course and how these events impact depression in later life. Grounded Theory will serve as the framework to analyze the data. The qualitative component will be carried out in California. To validate the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10 (HSCL- 10) items inventory, quantitative data will be collected in California and Minnesota. This proposed project responds directly to the request and need to increase diversity in the aging research field. With the status of low income, low education attainment, and poor health profile the older Hmong immigrants are also among the most vulnerable populations in the U.S. The findings from this project will provide information that is much needed to fully understand their life course and current adjustment in later life with respect to mental health.