Depression Literacy and Depressive Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Self-Rated Mental Health Among Korean Americans

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective Depression literacy (DL) is increasingly recognized as an important predictor of mental health outcomes, but there remains a noticeable lack of scientific inquiry focusing on Korean Americans in this area. In addition, women are known to be more susceptible to depression, potentially affecting their DL and depressive symptoms differently than men. This study aimed to explore two primary objectives: (1) the potential role of self-rated mental health (SRMH) in mediating the association between DL and depressive symptoms in this population, and (2) whether gender differences exist in the presence and magnitudes of these mediation effects. Method Data were drawn from a survey with 693 Korean Americans aged 18 and older residing in New York and New Jersey. The PROCESS macro was used to test the mediation effect of self-rated mental health on the relationship between depression literacy and depressive symptoms in men and women. Results Self-rated mental health was found to mediate the relation between depression literacy and depressive symptoms in women but not in men. Conclusions Providing evidence-informed, culturally tailored and gender specific depression literacy education and programs for the KA communities may be an important strategy to reduce depressive symptoms in this group.