Predictors of Help-Seeking Among Community-Dwelling Korean American Women With Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding how the social and cultural constructions of UI influences aging Korean American women's help-seeking behavior (HSB). Specific aims are to test the psychometric properties of newly translated Korean versions of instruments and test a conceptual framework derived from a systemic perspective.This study uses a cross-sectional correlation descriptive design to understand relationships among predisposing (culture, health beliefs, and social structure), enabling (family and community resources), and need factors (perceived need) within the framework of socio-structural and cultural context. A sample of 149 Korean American women with UI was recruited from local religious organizations in Arizona. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics and multiple regression to test the conceptual framework.The results of research question one showed that reliabilities of the four newly translated measures and a validity of the Social Support Scale were appropriate to measure HSB among Korean target population. Results of research question two indicated that 35.8% of explained variance in HSB was explained by the conceptual framework. Significant predictors of HSB were severity of UI, Incontinence-quality of life (QOL) and social support. The results of research question four showed that there are moderator effects of enabling factors (health care support and social support) on perceived need (severity of UI and Incontinence-QOL) to facilitate seeking help.It is noteworthy that the notion of UI among Korean American women was influenced by social and cultural construction. Particularly, collectivism of social construction and ageism, and fatalism of cultural construction of UI has permeated to Korean women's beliefs about incontinence.