Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1705-1714

Factors Associated with Symptoms of Depression Among Bhutanese Refugees in the United States (Article)

Vonnahme L.A.* , Lankau E.W. , Ao T. , Shetty S. , Cardozo B.L.
  • a Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program, Atlanta, GA, United States, United States Public Health Service, Washington, DC, United States, Quarantine and Border Health Services Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 701 5th Ave, Suite 1600, Rm 1630, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
  • b Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Epidemic Intelligence Service, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Epidemic Intelligence Service, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, United States Public Health Service, Washington, DC, United States
  • e Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

Refugees are at risk for psychiatric morbidity, yet little is known about their mental health conditions. We identified factors associated with depression symptoms among Bhutanese refugees in the US. We randomly selected adult Bhutanese refugees (N = 386) to complete a cross-sectional survey concerning demographics, mental health symptoms, and associated risk factors. The case definition for depression symptoms was ≥1.75 mean depression score on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. More women (26 %) than men (16 %) reported depression symptoms (p = 0.0097). Higher odds of depression symptoms were associated with being a family provider, self-reported poor health, and inability to read and write Nepali (OR 4.6, 39.7 and 4.3, respectively) among men; and self-reported poor health and inability to read and write Nepali (OR 7.6, and 2.6 respectively) among women. US-settled Bhutanese refugees are at risk for depression. Providers should be aware of these concerns. Culturally appropriate mental health services should be made more accessible at a local level. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York (Outside USA).

Author Keywords

Mental health Refugees Refugee health Depression

Index Keywords

anxiety depression refugee mental health human epidemiology Refugees Self Report middle aged sex difference health status Aged ethnology Bhutan Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans psychology Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors very elderly risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics literacy adult posttraumatic stress disorder Sex Factors Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946475202&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0120-x&partnerID=40&md5=f391745ea2ca32040b28f241de9834c4
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0120-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English