International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Volume 61, Issue 5, 2015, Pages 498-505

How much orientation towards the host culture is healthy? Acculturation style as risk enhancement for depressive symptoms in immigrants (Article)

Behrens K. , Del Pozo M.A. , Großhennig A. , Sieberer M.* , Graef-Calliess I.T.
  • a Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, D-30625, Germany
  • c Institute of Biostatistics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, D-30625, Germany
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, D-30625, Germany, Center for Transcultural Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Wahrendorff Clinic, Sehnde, Hannover, Germany

Abstract

Aims: As the specific acculturative tasks and challenges involved in the migration process can lead to an increased risk for depressive symptoms, the study was designed to gain further insight into the interrelation between acculturation styles and mental health. Methods: A total of n = 90 patients with different ethnic backgrounds from an outpatient consultation service for immigrants at the Hannover Medical School were investigated by the Hannover Migration and Mental Health Interview (HMMH), the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Frankfurt Acculturation Scale (FRAKK). Results: The majority of the subjects (84.4%) had a clinically significant depression. The extent of depressive symptoms was determined by the selected acculturation style (1) (F = 3.29, p = .025): Subjects with integration as acculturation style showed less depressive symptoms than subjects with assimilation as acculturation style. Furthermore, subjects with segregation as acculturation style also showed less depressive symptoms than subjects with assimilation. Conclusion: The results suggest that even when undergoing extreme emotional distress, eventually leading to mental disorder, integration, as an acculturation style, seems to serve as a protective resource and possibly prevents further decline. © 2014 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

immigrants cultural identity Acculturation style Acculturation Depressive symptoms

Index Keywords

Germany depression mental health human middle aged ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires cross-sectional study migrant psychology Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female risk factor psychological rating scale Risk Factors Psychiatric Status Rating Scales questionnaire cultural factor adult Linear Models statistical model
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84937853525&doi=10.1177%2f0020764014560356&partnerID=40&md5=ac0f3e4ead3df55a715363f0b10736c9
DOI: 10.1177/0020764014560356
ISSN: 00207640
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English