Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among Elderly Turkish and Polish Migrants and German Natives: The Role of Age, Gender, Income, Discrimination and Social Support

Abstract

Background: Migration can negatively and positively influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Yet, little is known about the HRQoL of Turkish and Polish migrants and German natives. In this study, the following hypotheses were formulated: (1) Elderly Turkish as well as Polish migrants show lower HRQoL than elderly German natives. (2) Age and gender significantly influence HRQoL; low income level and perceived discrimination decrease HRQoL; social support increases HRQoL. Methods: A questionnaire (Short form-36 (Sf-36) and other questions) was distributed among 203 migrants and 101 natives. Univariate analysis was performed for the group analysis of the Sf-36 sum scores. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the influence of the selected predictors on Sf-36 scores. Results: (1) Scores of the Turkish migrants were significantly lower for Role Emotional (RE) and Mental Health (MH) compared to the natives. Scores of the Polish migrants were significantly higher for Physical Functioning (PF) and Vitality (VT) compared to the natives. (2) Age had an effect in both migrant and native groups, but only on PF and RE. Gender was a predictor of HRQoL among the migrants in PF, VT and MH. Migrants with a low income level reported their General Health (GH) and MH as poor. Discrimination had an influence on MH in the migrant groups. Social support was found to predict MH and GH in the German group. Conclusion: Being a migrant does not necessarily entail poor HRQoL. Future research should investigate the health of migrants as well as focus on their health resources.