Associations of Internal Migration and Somatoform Symptoms, Depression, and Anxiety in a German Representative Sample

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine, if internal German migration was associated with mental distress, somatoform symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Data from two representative studies from 2020 and 2021 were analysed (N=4922). Mental distress, including the dimensions somatoform symptoms, depression, and anxiety, was assessed with the short version of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18). Linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations between internal migration and mental distress while controlling for sociodemographic factors (gender, age, partner, household equivalised income, and education). Internal migrants from East to West Germany reported more mental distress, somatoform symptoms, depression, and anxiety than those who grew up and stayed in the East. This finding remained after controlling for sociodemographic factors. No differences were found between internal migrants from West to East Germany and those who grew up and stayed in West Germany. German internal migration should be taken into account when examining differences in mental health in East and West Germany. Our results suggest that particularly the group that had moved from the Eastern to the Western part of Germany reported significantly signs of mental distress.