BMC Psychiatry
Volume 16, Issue 1, 2016

Depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among 1st and 2nd generation migrants - results from the Gutenberg health study (Article) (Open Access)

Beutel M.E. , Jünger C. , Klein E.M.* , Wild P. , Lackner K.J. , Blettner M. , Banerjee M. , Michal M. , Wiltink J. , Brähler E.
  • a University Medical Center Mainz, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Untere Zahlbacher Str. 8, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
  • b University Medical Center Mainz, Medical Clinic for Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Mainz, Germany
  • c University Medical Center Mainz, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Untere Zahlbacher Str. 8, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
  • d University Medical Center Mainz, Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine 2, Mainz, Germany, University Medical Center Mainz, Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Mainz, Germany, University Medical Center Mainz, German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine Main, Mainz, Germany
  • e University Medical Center Mainz, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Mainz, Germany
  • f University Medical Center Mainz, Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), Mainz, Germany
  • g Center for Comparative Native and Indigenous Studies, Department of English and Linguistics, American Studies, Mainz, Germany
  • h University Medical Center Mainz, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Untere Zahlbacher Str. 8, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
  • i University Medical Center Mainz, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Untere Zahlbacher Str. 8, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
  • j University Medical Center Mainz, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Untere Zahlbacher Str. 8, Mainz, D-55131, Germany

Abstract

Background: Even though migrants constitute a large proportion of the German population, there is a lack of representative studies on their mental health. Hence, the present study explored mental health characteristics and suicidal ideation comparing 1st and 2nd generation migrants to non-migrants and subgroups within 1st generation migrants. Methods: We investigated cross-sectional data of 14,943 participants of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), a population-based, prospective, single-center cohort study in Mid-Germany (age 35 to 74 years). Migration status was assessed according to the German microcensus criteria. Depression and anxiety were measured by the PHQ (PHQ-8, GAD-2, Panic module), social anxiety by the Mini SPIN and Distressed Personality (Type D) by the DS-14. Suicidal ideation was assessed by the single item of the PHQ-9. Results: A total of n=3,525 participants had a migration background; the proportion of 1st generation (immigrated after 1949) migrants was 10.6 % (2nd generation 13 %). Among the 1st generation migrants those with Polish (N=295) and Turkish (N=141) origins were the largest groups from single countries. Controlling for sex, age and socioeconomic status, 1st generation migrants reported significantly more depression (OR 1.24; CI 1.01-1.52), generalized anxiety (OR 1.38; CI 1.13-1.68), panic attacks in the past 4 weeks (OR 1.43; CI 1.16-1.77); Type D (OR 1.28; CI 1.13-1.45) and suicidal ideation (1.44; CI 1.19-1.74) compared to non-migrants. The mental health of 2nd generation migrants did not differ from native Germans; they had the highest socioeconomic status of the three groups. Compared to native Germans, Turkish migrants of both sexes reported more depression and panic, particularly a strongly increased suicidal ideation (OR 3.02; CI 1.80-5.04) after taking sex, age, and socioeconomic status into account. Polish migrants only reported an increased rate of suicidal ideation and Type D. Turkish migrants exceeded Polish migrants regarding depression (OR=2.61; 95 % CI 1.21-5.67), and panic attacks (OR=3.38; 95 % CI 1.45-7.85). In the subgroup analyses years lived in Germany was not significant. Conclusions: One of few representative community studies shows that compared to native Germans depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation were more frequently reported by 1st generation migrants, particularly of Turkish origin. Overall, 2nd generation migrants appear to have adjusted successfully. Limitations refer to a lack of data for persons without German language skills and missing mental health data in the Turkish sample. Further analyses need to address causes of mental strains and health care needs and provision. © 2016 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Migration Suicidal ideation Mental health Turkish Polish

Index Keywords

anxiety prospective study depression Germany mental health human Prospective Studies middle aged statistics and numerical data controlled study Aged social phobia panic Patient Health Questionnaire 8 Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study migrant psychology Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics Patient Health Questionnaire 9 prevalence Turk (people) Article adult migration distress syndrome generalized anxiety disorder anxiety assessment Personality Polish citizen Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale Mini Social Phobia Inventory suicidal ideation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84981351788&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-016-0995-2&partnerID=40&md5=0b046af78fb54e446f39701c68a56f10
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-016-0995-2
ISSN: 1471244X
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English