Barriers to seeking mental health services among Korean American immigrant women

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) underutilize mental health services (Matsuoka, Breaux, & Ryujin, 1997; Zhang, Snowden, & Sue, 1998). However, reasons for their underutilization of mental health services are largely unknown. Large-scale epidemiological studies have included only aggregate data of AAPIs. Ethnic-specific information about the mental health problems and barriers to seeking mental health services is needed. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to seeking mental health services among Korean immigrant women using a design that included focus groups and a survey questionnaire that was completed by 237 midlife to older married Korean immigrant women living in the Chicago metropolitan area. The survey included measures on cultural, predisposing, enabling, and psychosocial factors affecting intention to seek mental health services.; Bivariate regression analyses were conducted to identify key predictor variables of perceived need for mental health services. All of the significant predictors were entered into a multiple linear regression to determine the best fitting model for perceived need for mental health services. Next, bivariate linear regressions were conducted to determine if perceived need for mental health services predicted psychosocial barriers and intention to seek mental health services. A final regression model for intention to seek mental health services was computed. Korean identification, Korean language proficiency, previous experiences with mental health services, perceived mental health status, and perceived need for mental health services were significant multivariate predictors of intention to seek mental health services. Concern about shame was a significant mediator of the relationship between perceived need and intention to seek mental health services.; Findings suggest a need for outreach among Korean immigrant women who may have few financial and social resources. Practitioners and researchers need to be sensitive to the report of perceived stress, even if depression and somatization are not apparent. Korean immigrant women who identify more with Korean culture may not consider mental health services to be helpful in solving the mental health problems. Future research is needed about the appropriateness of mental health services for addressing problems and how Korean immigrant women might be encouraged to seek needed services.