Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1062-1068

The Relationship Between Immigration and Depression in South Africa: Evidence from the First South African National Income Dynamics Study (Article)

Tomita A.* , Labys C.A. , Burns J.K.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, 4013, South Africa, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, 4013, South Africa
  • c Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, 4013, South Africa

Abstract

Few studies have examined depression among immigrants in post-apartheid South Africa, and factors that strengthen the relationship between immigration and depression. The first wave of the National Income Dynamics Study was used to investigate links between immigration and depression (n = 15,205). Depression symptoms were assessed using a 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Immigrants in South Africa had fewer depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 10) than locally-born participants (17.1 vs. 32.4 %, F = 13.5, p < 0.01). Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analyses found that among immigrant populations, younger age (adjusted OR 1.03, 95 % CI 1.01–1.05) and black African ethnicity (adjusted OR 3.72, 95 % CI 1.29–10.7) were associated with higher depression. Younger age was associated with lower depression among locally-born study participants (adjusted OR 0.98, 95 % CI 0.97–0.98). The varying relationship between certain demographic factors, depression and the different mental health challenges among these groups requires closer attention. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

multilevel analysis Immigration Depression South Africa

Index Keywords

depression Africa south of the Sahara human middle aged statistics and numerical data ethnology South Africa Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor psychological rating scale Risk Factors Psychiatric Status Rating Scales adult age Age Factors
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84912028780&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-9987-9&partnerID=40&md5=57e8430160670fe4334b3626cab4c3e2
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-9987-9
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English