The Effect of Social Support, Gender and Years of Immigration on Immigrants’ Depression

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of social support, gender and years of immigration on immigrant’s depression. Researchers have shown that there is an impact on depression state depending on years of immigration. Also, research has shown that there are individual differences in terms of how the immigrants perceives the social support and the interaction that has in the quality of life. Interestingly was that important factor being the social support that perceived immigrants. The design of this study was a parametric correlation and multiple regression were used to examine the results. Three independent variables the first is social support which measure the total support and more specific family support, friends support and significant others support. The second is gender with two levels males or females. Third variable is years of immigration with two levels less 5 years or more 5 years. Dependent variable is depression scores. The participants will be asked to complete two tests. The first was Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support has 12 items about social support on significant others, family and friends’ support. The second questionnaires were CES- D with 20 items about depression with the higher scores indicating the presence of more symptomatology. The number of participants was 124 by which 62they were male immigrants and 62 they were female immigrants. From the results of research, it was found that the years of immigration, the age of immigrants and significant others support associated with the presence of depression of immigrants. Theoretical contributions and future research directions are discussed in the concluding section of the paper.