Acculturation strategies and severity of depression among Vietnamese migrants

Abstract

AimsMigration with its long-term changes and the resulting task to adjust to the new environment has been associated with an increased risk for mental health problems. This study aims to gain further insight on the relationship between the fours acculturations strategies (integration, assimilation, separation, marginalization) and severity of depression.MethodsA total of n = 79 first generation Vietnamese outpatients from a psychiatric outpatient clinic for Vietnamese migrants in Germany were investigated regarding self-reported depressive symptoms (patient health questionnaire-9) and acculturation (Stephenson multigroup acculturation scale; SMAS).ResultsPatients with an integration acculturation strategy reported lower severity of depression compared to marginalized patients, who reported the highest severity of depression.ConclusionThe results implicate that the integration of both the mainstream society and the ethnic society might serve as a resource, whereas the rejection of both societies might increase the risk of depression.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.