Self-Reported Anxiety, Sleeping Problems and Pain Among Turkish-Born Immigrants in Sweden

Abstract

Objectives. To study whether symptoms of self-reported anxiety, sleeping problems and severe pain are more common among Turkish-born immigrants in Sweden than among Swedes, and whether age and socio-economic status can explain this hypothesised difference. Design. Two random samples were studied—the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare Immigrant Survey, and the Swedish Annual Level-of-Living Survey, both from 1996. A total of 526 Turkish-born immigrants in Sweden were compared with 2,854 Swedish controls, all aged between 27 and 60 years. Data were analysed by sex, in an age-adjusted model; and a full model also included age, education, marital status, employment and country of origin (logistic regression). Results. In the full model, odds ratios were 2.12 (1.43–3.15) for anxiety, 2.60 (1.82–3.72) for sleeping problems, and 2.14 (1.50–3.05) for severe pain among Turkish-born men, and 2.44 (1.69–3.53) for anxiety, 3.01 (2.09–4.33) for sleeping problems, and 2.59 (1.80–3.71) for severe pain among Turkish-born women, using the Swedish controls as references. Conclusions. Being a Turkish-born immigrant in Sweden significantly increases the risks for self-reported anxiety, sleeping problems and severe pain, even after adjusting for age and socio-economic status (education, marital status and employment).