Yuri Jang|David A. Chiriboga|Sumie Okazaki
Attitudes toward mental health services: Age-group differences in Korean American adults
University of South Florida|University of South Florida|University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
present study examined attitudes toward mental health services held younger aged 2045 n 209 older aged 60 older n 462 groups korean americans following andersens 1968 behavioral model families use health service center health administration studies behavioral health model predisposing age gender marital status education need anxiety depressive symptoms enabling acculturation health insurance coverage personal experience beliefs variables considered meanlevel assessment younger older adults found hold similar level positive attitudes toward mental health services multivariate analysis cultureinfluenced beliefs shown substantial contribution model attitudes toward mental health services age groups belief depression medical condition found common predictor positive attitudes across groups older adult sample negative attitudes observed among believed depression sign personal weakness mentally ill family member brings shame whole family findings show older adults subject cultural misconceptions stigma related mental disorders also attitudes toward service use negatively influenced cultural stigma findings provide important implications interventions targeted improve access mental health care among minority populations based similarities differences found young old general agespecific strategies need developed order increase effectiveness programs