Dietary behaviors are associated with stress after immigration in Vietnamese marriage immigrants in South Korea

Abstract

This study was to investigate the association between dietary behaviors and the risk of stress after immigration in female Vietnamese immigrants. Cross‐sectional analysis of a prospective cohort was conducted on 582 Vietnamese wives visiting 13 clinical centers from Nov. 2006 to 2007. Stress after immigration was measured by Psychological Well‐being Index‐Short Form. Subjects were categorized into two groups: healthy (25.3%) and potentially stressed (60.7%) or stressed (14.0%). Multivariate logistic regression was used. Subjects whose education was less than completion of middle school had 1.562 times (95%CI=1.033‐2.363) higher risk of stress than the more educated. As length of residence in Korea increased, the risk increased (OR=1.237; 95%CI=1.067‐1.433). Underweight ones (BMI<18.5) were more likely to be stressed than overweight (BMI=23) (OR=2.164; 95%CI=1.100‐4.259). Subjects with irregular meals had 1.506 times (95%CI=1.001‐2.268) greater risk than ones without. The risk was higher in subjects who changed meal patterns after immigration (OR=2.114; 95%CI=1.408‐3.174). Subjects with a balanced diet had a 36.5% lower risk than ones without (OR=0.635; 95%CI=0.418‐0.967). Dietary behaviors might be independent risk factors of stress in Vietnamese immigrants. (Supported by a grant of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007‐090‐091‐4854‐300) & 2nd stage of BK21 Project in 2008)