Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
Volume 47, Issue 6, 2006, Pages 551-558

Immigration, lack of control and psychological distress: Findings from the Oslo Health Study (Article)

Dalgard O.S.* , Thapa S.B. , Hauff E. , Mccubbin M. , Syed H.R.
  • a Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, PO Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway
  • b Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
  • c Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway
  • d Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Laval University, Que., Canada
  • e Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway

Abstract

The aims of this study are to compare the level of psychological distress between Norwegian born and immigrants from countries with different income levels and culture, and to investigate the explanatory effect of socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, with special emphasis on lack of control (powerlessness and self-efficacy). A cross-sectional survey with self-administered questionnaire was conducted in 2000-2001 in a sample of 15,723 adults living in Oslo. Psychological distress was measured by a ten-item shortened version of Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 items, whereas psychosocial variables were measured by various instruments. The results show that the level of psychological distress is significantly higher in immigrants from low- and middle-income countries than in the Norwegian born and the immigrants from high-income countries. They also report more powerlessness, more negative life events, less social support, less income and less paid work. It is concluded that negative life events, mainly related to social network, somatic health and economic situations, as well as lack of social support, are important mediators between immigration from low- and middle-income countries to Norway and psychological distress. Powerlessness also plays a role, but this is mainly because of a concept overlap between psychological distress and powerlessness. © 2006 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

Author Keywords

Negative life events Social support self-efficacy Income Psychological distress Immigration powerlessness

Index Keywords

depression hospitalization Norway psychological aspect human Life Change Events middle aged life event Aged social support ethnology Self Efficacy Humans Severity of Illness Index male female questionnaire self concept Article Questionnaires adult migration Catchment Area (Health) Emigration and Immigration residential care
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33751072073&doi=10.1111%2fj.1467-9450.2006.00546.x&partnerID=40&md5=7c09c0d11e1f7402290de67db456a206
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2006.00546.x
ISSN: 00365564
Cited by: 63
Original Language: English