Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume 50, Issue 11, 2015, Pages 1713-1722

Ethnic enclaves and risk of psychiatric disorders among first- and second-generation immigrants in Sweden (Article)

Mezuk B.* , Li X. , Cederin K. , Concha J. , Kendler K.S. , Sundquist J. , Sundquist K.
  • a Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, One Capitol Plaza, Suite 824, PO Box 980212, Richmond, VA, United States, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
  • b Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
  • c Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
  • d Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, One Capitol Plaza, Suite 824, PO Box 980212, Richmond, VA, United States
  • e Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
  • f Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
  • g Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States

Abstract

Purpose: Some non-Western immigrant groups in Europe have elevated risk of psychosis relative to native-born. It is hypothesized that neighborhood ethnic density moderates this risk. Immigration to Sweden has increased substantially recently, particularly from the Middle East. This study examined the relationship between neighborhood ethnic density (i.e., living in an immigrant enclave) and risk of psychotic and affective disorders among three groups: Iraqi immigrants, immigrants from other nations, and native-born Swedes. Methods: Individuals aged 15–60, without prevalent psychopathology, were drawn from Swedish population-based registries and followed from 2005 to 2010 (N = 950,979). Multi-level logistic regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood ethnic composition and incident psychopathology. Results: Cumulative incidence of psychopathology was greater in Iraqi enclaves relative to predominantly Swedish neighborhoods (6.3 vs. 4.5 %). Iraqis living in enclaves did not have significantly greater risk of psychosis (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.66, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) 0.92–2.97) or affective disorders (OR: 1.04, 95 %CI 0.85–1.27) relative to those in predominantly Swedish neighborhoods. There was no increased risk of psychosis (OR: 0.93, p > 0.05) or affective disorders (OR: 0.93, p > 0.05) for other immigrants living in an enclave. Swedes living in an enclave had elevated risk of both psychosis (OR: 1.37, p < 0.05) and affective disorders (OR: 1.14, p < 0.05) relative to those in predominantly Swedish neighborhoods. Second-generation Iraqis had higher risk of psychotic but not affective disorders relative to first-generation. Conclusions: Neighborhood ethnic density does not moderate risk of psychopathology for immigrants in Sweden. Findings regarding Swedes are consistent with social drift. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Author Keywords

immigrants Neighborhood Depression multi-level Psychosis

Index Keywords

Registries demography population density register human risk assessment middle aged statistics and numerical data Iraq Logistic Models ethnology Residence Characteristics Young Adult Sweden Humans migrant psychology Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Psychotic Disorders Incidence adult multilevel analysis statistical model Mood Disorders
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84945435610&doi=10.1007%2fs00127-015-1107-1&partnerID=40&md5=2765399aaca3cc239cfcca7a0581727d
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-015-1107-1
ISSN: 09337954
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English