Mental Health Of Migrants Research Articles

Indicators of Identity and Psychological Well-Being in Immigrant Population.

Multiple research has indicated that group identity processes are critical to understanding the dynamics of psychological well-being linked to migration. However, few studies have analyzed the relationship between identity from different theoretical perspectives, and the mental health of migrants in the Latin-American context. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between several identity indicators such as ethnic identity, collective self-esteem, identity fusion (with the country of origin and the host country) simultaneously, and different dimensions of psychological well-being of Colombian migrants living in Chile. The sample consisted of 887 Colombian migrants, of whom 435 (49%) were men and 452 (51%) were women. Participants were residents of the cities of Arica (n=204; 23%), Antofagasta (n=469; 52.9%), and Santiago (n=214; 24.1%) in Chile. The results revealed by structural equation modeling indicate that collective self-esteem and ethnic identity show positive relationships with almost all dimensions of psychological well-being, while identity fusion with Colombia only showed a positive relationship with the dimension positive relationships and identity fusion with Chile only showed a positive relationship with the dimension autonomy. Implications and limitations of these results are discussed at the end.

Locus of Control and the Psychological Quality of Life Among Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany: Results of a Representative Survey

Many people with an African migration background in Europe are affected by discrimination and racism because of their skin color and culture and have a below-average socioeconomic status and quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to find starting points for improving the integration and QoL of people with a migration background from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) living in Germany. For the first time, a sample of 518 people from SSA (19-56 years) living in Germany was interviewed via an online survey in three languages about the psychological QoL and their locus of control as an indicator of their adjustment performance. The results of the nationwide survey pointed to a significant strong positive association between locus of control and psychological QoL among people from SSA in Germany (p<.010; r=.49). Here, age, length of residence in Germany, occupational group, and educational attainment were significantly related to locus of control beliefs and mental QoL. A multiple regression model showed that, among the socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, educational attainment was a significant predictor for the relationship between psychological QoL and locus of control. About 24% of the variance in mental health was explained by locus of control beliefs and educational attainment. Education is a starting point for interventions to promote integration and mental health of migrants from SSA at different stages of life.

COVID-19 and mental health: Anxiety disorders among immigrants due to COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected various facets of health. While mental health became a major concern during the COVID-19 outbreak, the impact on the migrants’ mental health has still been neglected. The purpose of this study was to examine the COVID-19 outbreak's impact on the mental health of immigrants in South Korea.MethodsA total number of 386 immigrants in South Korea participated in this quantitative cross-sectional study. The standardized e-questionnaire, including the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, was used to measure the anxiety level. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find out the determinants of anxiety disorders among immigrants.ResultsThe prevalence of severe anxiety among immigrants was found to be 47.2%. Female immigrants (28.6%) had a lower anxiety disorder than males (71.4%). Immigrants who were married, living alone, had a low income, had a history of health problems were suffered from moderate to severe anxiety. Immigrants who were unemployed (OR 2.302, 95% CI = 1.353–3.917) and lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak (OR 2.197, 95% CI = 1.312–3.678) have a higher anxiety disorder. Immigrants aged over 30 years were found to suffer from a high level of anxiety (OR 2.285, 95% CI = 1.184–4.410). Relief support from the government was significantly associated with anxiety disorder among immigrants (p < 0.01, OR = 3.151, 95% CI = 1.962–5.061).ConclusionWith very limited studies on immigrants’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper provides scientific research evidence of the COVID-19 outbreak's impact on the mental health of migrants. Our study has consequences for implementing integrated psychological interventions and health promotion strategies for the well-being of immigrants’ mental health.

Migration experience and mental health: A qualitative study in France and Brazil.

The relationship between migration and mental health is complex and involves factors at different levels, as the individual history of the migrant, the collective history of their home country, the host society's and their mutual past history. Even though the migratory scenario of France and Brazil has changed over the years, both countries currently host an important number of immigrants. The main objective of the present study was to describe and analyze the impacts of the migratory experience on mental health of migrants with different migration experiences and living in two countries: France and Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants, six in France and seven in Brazil. A thematic qualitative analysis of the data was performed using the ATLAS.TI software. Three themes were created based on the different times of the migration experience: before migration, during migration and after migration. All codes of these three bigger themes were organized in sub-themes for the samples in France and Brazil. Participants in France described an important exposure to traumatic events before and during migration. In Brazil, the migration experiences were multiple, in some cases presenting a traumatic history, but in most cases migration was seen as an opportunity to have access to better life conditions. In both countries, participants reported a great level of psychological distress associated to post-migratory difficulties (e.g. unemployment, learning a new language, or facing a new cultural environment). Our results suggest that multidisciplinary interventions, with focus on skills development, such as language and work-related skills, and on access to basic needs may be essential for both voluntary and involuntary migrants. In addition to these interventions, some individuals may need specialized mental health intervention, focusing in past traumatic exposure and in the current acculturation process.

Survey on the physical and mental health among migrants and refugees in ten European countries

Abstract This study discusses the main findings of the quantitative research conducted within the Mig-HealthCare consortium countries to explore the physical and mental health of migrants and refugees. The study population is defined as migrants/refugees who have been residing in Europe, for at least 6 months and up to 5 years. In order to be able to capture the recent migration flow, the analysis was based on 1169 questionnaires collected in 10 EU-Member States, answered by adult migrants residing less than 5 years in the specific country. A total of 29% of migrants stated that their health is poor or fair. Overall, 56.9% of migrants needed health care services during the last 6 months, however approximately one in four did not have access to them. The most frequent problems were long waiting times, not being able to organize an appointment, not knowing where to go, lack of communication and long distances. The most frequent chronic health problem migrants/refugees face is caries and headaches/migraines, followed by psychological disease and sleep disorders. Approximately one in three women have been pregnant since entering the current EU country, whereas one in four have had a miscarriage or abortion and 21.5% are currently pregnant. Summing up, most of the migrants face common medical problems such as bad teeth, headaches and psychological problems. However long waiting times, not knowing where to go and lack of communication are barriers to accessing healthcare. The fact that the immunization status of migrants/refugees is unclear, a significant number suffer from serious chronic diseases and the limited breast and cervical cancer screening of female migrants/refugees pose serious threats to their health and important challenges for the health services of Europe.

The impact of EU political ambiguity towards migrant crisis on the mental health of migrants

For last couple of years, EU is facing migrant crisis that is challenging its capacity to help and its unity to decide the modes of assistance. Such political context brings additional uncertainty and insecurity into migrants’ lives which causes extreme experiences that are often damaging migrants’ mental health. In humanitarian plans regarding assistance for migrants, mental health is a cross cutting issue. Status of mental health is a result of complex intertwining of genetics, developmental and current life experiences. The experience of migration is a current life event which highly determines migrants’ mental health. Hardships of travel along migration route are worsened by often hostile reception by authorities at borders of countries that are on the way to desired rich EU countries. On migrants’ way to desired safety, there are countries like Slovenia and Hungary which protect their borders with wire. Therefore, migrants are stuck in countries, like Greece and Croatia, which are not their desirable destination. While waiting to get free passage, migrants are exposed to various political rhetoric of politicians of EU countries who hold their destiny in their hands. Migration experience does not make migrants mentally ill but it does make them vulnerable in that respect. Migrants’ vulnerability is highly challenged by ambiguity of political decisions, media coverage influenced by the same policies and concomitant changes in immediate surrounding. It is crucial to make publicly clear that political decisions mean life or death, health or mental disorder to migrants and that therefore they at least carry ethical responsibility.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Mental health of migrants in low-skilled work and the families they leave behind

Mental health of migrants in low-skilled work and the families they leave behind

An Investigation into Suicides Among Bhutanese Refugees Resettled in the United States Between 2008 and 2011.

An increase of Bhutanese refugee suicides were reported in the US between 2009 and 2012. This investigation examined these reported suicides in depth to gain a better understanding of factors associated with suicide within this population. The study employed 14 psychological autopsies to elicit underlying motivations and circumstances for self-inflicted death and to identify potential future avenues for prevention and intervention among refugee communities. Disappointment with current (un)employment, lack of resettlement services and social support, and frustrations with separation from family were believed to contribute to suicidal acts. Suicide within refugee populations may be connected with experiences of family withdrawal, integration difficulties, and perceived lack of care. It is important to assess the effectiveness of improving refugee services on the mental health of migrants. More research is needed in order to better understand, and respond to, suicide in resettled populations.

EPA-0704 – Migrant pathway to community mental health center of borgomanero

International literature indicates that migrants have highest incidence of mental disorders compared to natives, especially for psychotic disorders. Few studies about mental health of migrants in Italy have been published, although net migration rate grew in the last twenty years. to describe socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of migrants attending Community Mental Health Centre (CMHCs) of Borgomanero (Piedmont, Italy) and to evaluate differences in psychiatric diagnoses and pathway to care among different ethnic groups. Migrants attending CMHCs between 1st January 2012 and 31 August 2013 were included in the study. Data were gathered retrospectively from clinical data sets. 97 Migrants attended the CMHCs. The most represented ethnicity is East European (36%), the less one is Asian (4%). Most frequent diagnosis is adjustment disorder (33%). In most cases, access to the service follows the family doctor's referral (46%), except for patients with schizophrenia, whose access is most frequently direct (they are usually brought to the service by family members) (33%). The majority of those migrating for working reasons suffers from adjustment disorder, schizophrenia or anxiety. Pathway to care and diagnosis seem to be statistically related (p-value 0,00052), as well as migration reason and diagnosis (p-value 0,0452). Lack of regular residence permit seems to be related to non-medical pathways. Pathways to CHMCs are complex and influenced by many factors. Most of the sample received a diagnosis of adjustment reaction. More attention should be paid to developing psychiatric consultation liaison models that encompass the physician and social services.

Depression and anxiety among migrants in Austria: A population based study of prevalence and utilization of health care services

BackgroundAlthough migrants form a large part of the Austrian population, information about mental health of migrants in Austria is scarce. Therefore, we compared the prevalence of dysphoric disorders (depression and anxiety) and the corresponding utilization of health care services of Eastern European, western and other migrants with the non-migrant population in Austria. MethodsWe performed a telephone survey on a random sample of the general population of Austria aged 15 years and older (n=3509) between October 2010 and September 2011. Depression and anxiety were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 and utilization of health care services in the last 4 weeks was inquired. Results15.0% of our sample had a migration background. Female migrants from Eastern Europe, first and second generation, had a higher prevalence of dysphoric disorders (29.7% and 33.4% respectively) than Austrian women (15.2%) (p<0.001). The prevalence in the other migrant groups did not differ significantly from the Austrian population. There was no gender difference in dysphoric disorders in the Austrian population. After adjustment for age and chronic diseases, having a dysphoric disorder was associated with a higher utilization of health care services among migrant and Austrian women, but not among men. LimitationsBecause of the explorative nature of the study multiple testing correction was not performed. The reason for health care utilization was not assessed. ConclusionsMental health of female migrants from Eastern Europe should be studied in more detail; men could be an underserved group, both in migrants and Austrians.

Migration, social mobility and common mental disorders: critical review of the literature and meta-analysis

Objective. Changes in socio-economic position in people who migrate may have adverse associations with mental health. The main objective of this review was to assess the association of social mobility with common mental disorders in migrant and second-generation groups, to inform future research. Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis of English-language studies assessing the association of social mobility in migrant or second-generation groups with common mental disorders. Approaches to operationalise ‘social mobility’ were reviewed. Results. Twelve studies (n=18,548) met criteria for retrieval. Very few included second-generation groups, and most studies were cross-sectional in design. Approaches to operationalise ‘social mobility’ varied between studies. Downward intragenerational social mobility was associated with migration in the majority of studies. Random effects meta-analysis (n=5179) suggested that migrants to higher income countries who experienced downward mobility or underemployment were more likely to screen positive for common mental disorders, relative to migrants who were upwardly mobile or experienced no changes to socio-economic position. Conclusions on second-generation groups were limited by the lack of research highlighted for these groups. Downward intragenerational mobility associated with migration may be associated with vulnerability to common mental disorders in some migrant groups. Conclusion. Given the increasing scale of global migration, further research is needed to clarify how changes to socio-economic position associated with international migration may impact on the mental health of migrants, and in their children.

A resilience-based and meaning-oriented model of acculturation: A sample of mainland Chinese postgraduate students in Hong Kong

Abstract Traditional acculturation research has focused mainly on acculturative stress and its negative consequences on the mental health of migrants. However, there has recently been a substantial paradigm shift in acculturation research from a psychopathological perspective to a resilience framework, which focuses on positive adaptation outcomes and their contributing protective factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate how to improve the emotional well-being of migrants by developing and testing a resilience model of acculturation using mainland Chinese postgraduate students in Hong Kong as the sample. A total of 400 mainland Chinese students were recruited from six universities in Hong Kong through a cross-sectional survey. A resilience-based and meaning-oriented model of acculturation was developed for Chinese students by path analysis and structural equation modeling. Threat appraisal and sense-making coping partially mediated the relationship between acculturative hassles and negative affect. The effect of acculturative hassles on positive affect was mediated by two pathways: the first was mediated by threat appraisal, sense-making coping, and negative affect; the second was mediated by meaning-in-life. The findings suggest that acculturative hassles and threat appraisal are significant risk factors and that sense-making coping and meaning-in-life are important protective factors for psychological adjustment in cross-cultural adaptation.

Migration from Mexico to the United States and Subsequent Risk for Depressive and Anxiety Disorders

Migration is suspected to increase risk for depressive and anxiety disorders. To test the hypothesized increase in risk for depressive and anxiety disorders after arrival in the United States among Mexican migrants. We combined data from surveys conducted separately in Mexico and the United States that used the same diagnostic interview. Discrete time survival models were specified to estimate the relative odds of first onset of depressive disorders (major depressive episode and dysthymia) and anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder) among migrants after their arrival in the United States compared with nonmigrant Mexicans who have a migrant in their immediate family. Population surveys in the United States and Mexico. Two thousand five hundred nineteen nonmigrant family members of migrants in Mexico and 554 Mexican migrants in the United States. First onset of any depressive or anxiety disorder. After arrival in the United States, migrants had a significantly higher risk for first onset of any depressive or anxiety disorder than did nonmigrant family members of migrants in Mexico (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.94). Associations between migration and disorder varied across birth cohorts. Elevated risk among migrants relative to nonmigrants was restricted to the 2 younger cohorts (those aged 18-25 or 26-35 years at interview). In the most recent birth cohort, the association between migration and first onset of any depressive or anxiety disorder was particularly strong (odds ratio, 3.89; 95% confidence interval, 2.74-5.53). This is, to our knowledge, the first study to compare risk for first onset of psychiatric disorder between representative samples of migrants in the United States and nonmigrants in Mexico. The findings are consistent with the hypothesized adverse effect of migration from Mexico to the United States on the mental health of migrants, but only among migrants in recent birth cohorts.

Mental health of patients from different cultures in Germany

Background Empirical studies on migration and mental health of migrants are still rare. In Germany they are often characterised by low sample sizes and are limited to certain diseases and geographical areas (old federal states). The comparability of their results is limited. Nonetheless, the assessment of migrants’ health is necessary for adequate medical and psychosocial care for this target group. Aim To provide data on mental health of migrants from Poland and from Vietnam in Germany. Methods: We have assessed a random sample of migrants from Poland (n=140) and from Vietnam (n=88) using the Giessen Subjective Complaints List – 24 (GSCL-24) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Additionally we asked migrants about their knowledge of health care institutions in case of psychosocial problems, their demands and the existing barriers to health care utilisation. Results Migrants from Poland and Vietnam have a higher general score of complaints of physical ill-health and higher anxiety and depression values than Germans. Psychosocial and medical institutions are visited less. Conclusion Further analytical studies are needed to clarify health differences between these groups. Migrants are a heterogeneous group and only group-specific investigations will clarify associations between countries of origin, health status and use of health care institutions.

Versorgung psychisch kranker Patienten mit Migrationshintergrund

Global migration and the increasing number of migrants to Europe and Germany diversify the needs in the psychosocial and health care system. Migrants are a heterogeneous group as regards their country of emigration, reasons for migration and legal status. We aim to give an overview on 1) mental health of migrants in Germany, 2) cultural associated explanatory of addictive behaviour, 3) utilisation and help-seeking behaviour migrants with particular regard to addicted migrants, and on 4) barriers within the psychosocial care system. Studies on migration, mental health and utilisation of psychosocial institutions especially of institutions for addicted persons show inconsistent results. The results may be conflicting because of the methods used (e. g. small sample size, variety of methods, studies on clinical populations, studies without control-groups, mono-ethnic studies) or because of differences between populations. Therefore, the comparability of results is limited. Migrants use health and psychosocial care institutions differently from non-migrants. Barriers within the psychosocial care system may be caused by uncertainty of learned behaviour of members of staff how to treat migrants or by institutional barriers. Our findings show that empirical studies on mental health of migrants are still rare. Further specific investigations are needed to get an in-depth understanding of migrants' mental health and their pattern of psychosocial and health care utilisation to modify responsiveness of services.

Chinese migrants' mental health and adjustment to life in New Zealand.

The purpose of this study was to identify and assess the relative importance of predictors of the self-rated adjustment and psychiatric morbidity of recent Chinese migrants. Chinese migrants (n = 271) living in Auckland and aged 15 years or older completed a postal questionnaire that included the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ). The majority of respondents came from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Most respondents did not report major adjustment problems. The psychiatric morbidity rate was 19%. Major predictors of experiencing problems included rejection by locals, being aged 26-35 years or over 45 years and low English proficiency. Major predictors of poor adjustment included unemployment, low English proficiency, lack of university education, younger age, shorter residency, expectations not met and regrets about coming to New Zealand. Predictors of minor mental disorder included regretting coming, female gender and younger age. For migrants resident 2 years or less, unemployment and underemployment were additional risk factors. Mothers with absent husbands and young people with absent parents also had elevated rates of mental disorder. Although the overall prevalence of mental disorder for this sample of recent migrants appears to be similar to that of the general population, significant risk factors were identified. The findings extend knowledge of the adjustment and the mental health of migrants and provide potential focal points for primary and secondary prevention interventions.

Refugee Mental Health

Originally published in Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 1991, Vol 36(10), 887. Reviews the book, Mental Health for Refugees and Other Migrants: Social and Preventive Approaches by Joseph Westermeyer (see record 1989-98233-000). The book reviews concepts and findings with the goal of “enhancing the social adjustment and mental health of migrants”. More broadly, it is set within an anthropological tradition of taking culture seriously; it is also set within cross-cultural psychology, making comparisons across groups to check the generalizability of findings. Clinical concerns are then addressed, including a review of the types of psychiatric disorders and their distribution among immigrants and refugees. The special needs of refugee youth are highlighted, particularly problems with their ethnic identity and their marginalization between the heritage culture (represented by their family) and the dominant society (represented by their peers). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)