The mediating role of acculturative stress in the relationship between acculturation level and depression among Korean immigrants in the U.S.

This study examined the effects of acculturation level and acculturative stress on depression among 500 Korean immigrants in the United States. Path analysis yielded a positive direct effect of acculturative stress and a negative indirect effect of acculturation level on depression. The path model supported a mediating role of acculturative stress in the relationship between acculturation level and depression. The results indicate that acculturative stress is the most significant proximal risk factor for depression and acculturation level is the second most important explaining factor for depression among Korean immigrants. Depression treatment for the Korean immigrant population, therefore, should be geared toward reducing acculturative stress and increasing level of acculturation.

► Path model proposes that acculturation level influences depression through acculturative stress among Korean immigrants.
► Results support the mediating role of acculturative stress in the relationship between acculturation level and depression.
► Acculturative stress is found to be the most significant explaining factor for depression among Korean immigrants.
► Acculturation level is found to be the second most important explaining factor for depression among Korean immigrants.