Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume 46, Issue 11, 2011, Pages 1143-1152

Mental health in Ecuadorian migrants from a population-based survey: The importance of social determinants and gender roles (Review)

Amo J.D.* , Jarrín I. , García-Fulgueiras A. , Ibánez-Rojo V. , Alvarez D. , Rodríguez-Arenas M.A. , García-Pina R. , Fernández-Liria A. , García-Ortúzar V. , Díaz D. , Mazarrasa L. , Zunzunegui M.V. , Llácer A.
  • a National Center of Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029 Madrid, Spain, Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain, Department of Health Sciences, University Rey Juan Carlos I, Madrid, Spain
  • b National Center of Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029 Madrid, Spain, Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
  • c Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain, Health Department of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
  • d Health Department of Andalucía, Andalucia, Spain
  • e National Center of Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029 Madrid, Spain, Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
  • f Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain, National School of Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
  • g Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain, Health Department of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
  • h Alcalá University, Madrid, Spain
  • i Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain, Health Department of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
  • j Health Department of Andalucía, Andalucia, Spain
  • k National School of Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
  • l Montreal University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • m National Center of Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029 Madrid, Spain, Ciber de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Purpose To describe the prevalence of and the risk factors for poor mental health in female and male Ecuadorian migrants in Spain compared to Spaniards. Method Population-based survey. Probabilistic sample was obtained from the council registries. Subjects were interviewed through home visits from September 2006 to January 2007. Possible psychiatric case (PPC) was measured as score of ≥5 on the General Health Questionnaire-28 and analyzed with logistic regression. Results Of 1,122 subjects (50% Ecuadorians, and 50% women), PPC prevalence was higher in Ecuadorian (34%, 95% CI 29-40%) and Spanish women (24%, 95% CI 19-29%) compared to Ecuadorian (14%, 95% CI 10-18%) and Spanish men (12%, 95% CI 8-16%). Shared risk factors for PPC between Spanish and Ecuadorian women were: having children (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-6.9), work dissatisfaction (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.5), low salaries (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.9), no economic support (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.9-3.4), and no friends (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.2). There was an effect modification between the nationality and educational level, having a confidant, and atmosphere at work. Higher education was inversely associated with PPC in Spanish women, but having university studies doubled the odds of being a PPC in Ecuadorians. Shared risk factors for PPC in Ecuadorian and Spanish men were: bad atmosphere at work (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.4), no economic support (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.5), no friends (OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.9-6.6), and low social support (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.9-2.9), with effect modification between nationality and partner's emotional support. Conclusions Mental health in Spanish and Ecuadorian women living in Spain is poorer than men. Ecuadorian women are the most disadvantaged group in terms of prevalence of and risk factors for PPC. © Springer-Verlag 2010.

Author Keywords

Migrants Gender Mental health Inequality Immigration

Index Keywords

Ecuador psychological aspect mental health human sex difference middle aged ethnology Mental Disorders interview mental disease Young Adult Humans Interviews as Topic male Spain female risk factor Risk Factors questionnaire Article Questionnaires adult Social Environment migration Sex Factors Transients and Migrants
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-83955164353&doi=10.1007%2fs00127-010-0288-x&partnerID=40&md5=defc2b1824fb35b2cf06e6a1bcf5b388
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-010-0288-x
ISSN: 09337954
Cited by: 24
Original Language: English