Employed women with depression in Korea

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing 2011-03, Vol.18 (2), p.139-145
• Main Authors: NAM, K. A., KIM, S., LEE, H., KIM, H. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Causality; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; depressive symptoms; employment; Employment - psychology; Exercise - psychology; Female; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Korea - epidemiology; Korean women; Middle Aged; Nursing; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Self Efficacy; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; stressful life events; work stress; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1351-0126; 1365-2850
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01641.x

Accessible summary •  Depression is a major mental health problem with a higher incidence in women than in men, which is also observed in Korea. Work‐related factors, along with other known social and familial factors, have been reported to greatly affect women's mental health. •  Hauenstein's Nursing Practice Paradigm for Depressed Rural Women (NPP) is an explicit paradigm for holistic interventions to prevent depression by emphasizing the importance of resources available to depressed women – physiological, psychological, and social resources. •  In this study, after modifying Hauenstein's NPP for culturally competent result, we employed the framework for exploring the predictors of depression and the possible moderating effects of resources on the stress–depression relationship in a community‐based sample of employed Korean women. Korean women have been reported to be more susceptible to depressive symptoms than men. In this study we explored the important predictors of depression among employed Korean women using modified Hauenstein's Nursing Practice Paradigm for Depressed Rural Women, focusing on the relationship of stressful life events and three resources (physiological, social, and psychological). In particular, we examined the moderating effects of resources on the stress–depression relationship among a community‐based sample of employed Korean women. In this cross‐sectional study, survey data were collected with 767 employed women in Korea over a 2‐month period in 2006. Of these respondents, 286 depressed participants’ data were analysed to test moderating effects of the three resources on depression. Our hierarchical multiple regression results revealed that stressful life events directly affected depression. However, after including the product terms of the three resources (i.e. regular exercise, self‐efficacy, and closeness) and stressful life events, the main effect of stressful life events disappeared, confirming significant moderating effects of the resources. The findings would contribute to development of a body of culturally sensitive knowledge for clinical practice with depressed employed Korean women.