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This study examined age and gender differences in the relationship between diabetes-specific quality of life (DQOL) and depressive symptoms among Korean immigrants with type 2 diabetes. In this cross-sectional study, 160 Korean immigrants ages 40 to 80 with diabetes were assessed for depressive symptoms, DQOL, and related demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. The relationship between DQOL and depressive symptoms was stronger for men than women. Whereas there were no main effects of age or gender in predicting depressive symptoms, there was a significant three-way interaction between gender, age (middle-aged or older), and DQOL on depressive symptoms, with older men demonstrating the strongest positive association between DQOL and depression. Age and gender differences should be considered for DQOL and depressive symptoms in Korean immigrants with diabetes. Efforts to address DQOL may likely have the greatest impact in decreasing depressive symptoms when targeted to older male Korean immigrants., (Copyright 2013, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: Patients with diabetes have a higher prevalence of depression than the general population. Korean immigrants with type 2 diabetes are understudied., Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in Korean immigrants., Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, a community sample of 164 Korean immigrant adults with type 2 diabetes were assessed for depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Predictors of depression were grouped into three categories: demographic (age, gender, education, English proficiency), clinical (duration of diabetes, comorbidities, insulin use), and psychosocial (general health, diabetes-related quality of life [QOL], family support)., Results: Approximately 56% of participants had Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores of ≥16. Higher levels of depression were associated with greater impact of diabetes on QOL (b = 5.68, p = .001), worse overall health (b = -0.09, p = .012), and less family support (b = -4.02, p = .042). The relationship between depression and diabetes impact on QOL was stronger for men than women (b = 6.67, p = .020)., Discussion: Depressive symptoms are common among Korean immigrants with type 2 diabetes. Assessing diabetes-related QOL, general health, and family support may be of value in better understanding depressive symptoms among this population. Among Korean immigrant men with type 2 diabetes, specific attention should be paid to diabetes-related QOL.