Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2016
Keywords
limited English proficiency, older ethnic immigrants, health
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14199
Abstract
OBJECTIVES—To examine the extent to which limited English proficiency (LEP) poses a risk to physical and mental health, using older Korean Americans as a target population.
DESIGN—Cross-sectional survey.
PARTICIPANTS—Older Korean Americans (N = 1,301).
MEASUREMENTS—Health outcomes were indexed using binary variables covering activity limitation, self-rated health, and probable depression. Participants who reported that they spoke English less than very well were categorized as manifesting LEP.
RESULTS—Approximately 71% of the sample had LEP. Those with LEP scored lower on all measures of health than their English-proficient counterparts. In multivariate models, the risk of having activity limitations was 2.72 times as great (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.72–4.29, P < .001), a fair or poor rating of health 2.59 times as great (95% CI = 1.91–3.49, P < .001), and probable depression 1.73 times as great (95% CI = 1.29–2.31, P < .001) in participants with LEP.
CONCLUSION—Limited English proficiency was identified as a critical source of health vulnerability. Systematic efforts should be made to reach out to older immigrants with LEP and include them in health-related research and prevention and intervention programs.
Rights Information
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, v. 64, issue 7, p. 1498-1502
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Jang, Y., Yoon, H. Park, N.S., Chiriboga, D.A., Health Vulnerability of Immigrants with Limited English Proficiency: A Study of Older Korean Americans. J Am Geriatr Soci, 64: 1498-1502, 2016; which has been published in final form at [10.1111/jgs.14199]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions
Scholar Commons Citation
Jang, Yuri; Yoon, Hyunwoo; Park, Nan Sook; and Chiriboga, David A., "Health Vulnerability of Immigrants with Limited English Proficiency: A Study of Older Korean Americans" (2016). Social Work Faculty Publications. 1.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/sok_facpub/1
