International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 2, 2019

Differences in insomnia symptoms between immigrants and non-immigrants in Switzerland attributed to emotional distress: Analysis of the swiss health survey (Article) (Open Access)

Schneeberger A.R.* , Seixas A. , Schweinfurth N. , Lang U.E. , Cajochen C. , Bux D.A. , Richards S. , Jean-Louis G. , Huber C.G.
  • a Psychiatrische Dienste Graubuenden (PDGR), Loestrasse 220, Chur, 7000, Switzerland, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM), 3331 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467, United States, Psychiatrische Universitaetsklinik (PUK), Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Universitaet Zuerich, Lenggstrasse 31, Zurich, 8032, Switzerland
  • b Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, Translational Research Building, 227 East 30th Street, Floor 7, New York, NY 10016, United States
  • c Universitaere Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel, Universitaet Basel, Switzerland (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, Basel, 4012, Switzerland
  • d Universitaere Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel, Universitaet Basel, Switzerland (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, Basel, 4012, Switzerland
  • e Universitaere Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel, Universitaet Basel, Switzerland (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, Basel, 4012, Switzerland
  • f Psychiatrische Dienste Graubuenden (PDGR), Loestrasse 220, Chur, 7000, Switzerland
  • g Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, Translational Research Building, 227 East 30th Street, Floor 7, New York, NY 10016, United States
  • h Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, Translational Research Building, 227 East 30th Street, Floor 7, New York, NY 10016, United States
  • i Universitaere Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel, Universitaet Basel, Switzerland (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, Basel, 4012, Switzerland

Abstract

Migration can be a stressful experience and may lead to poor health and behavioral changes. The immigrant population in Switzerland is disproportionately burdened by several negative health outcomes, chief among these is mental health issues. The aim of the study was to investigate whether sleep disturbances are more prevalent among immigrants compared to non-immigrants and whether emotional distress might explain sleep differences. Based on the Swiss Health Survey 2012 dataset, we analyzed the data of 17,968 people, of which 3406 respondents were immigrants. We examined variables including insomnia symptoms, emotional distress and clinical and socio-demographic data using unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear models. Compared to non-immigrants, immigrants suffer significantly more often from insomnia symptoms. Immigrants also endured higher levels of emotional distress. Higher values of emotional distress are related to other symptoms of sleep disorders. Immigrants with emotional distress were at significant risk of sleep disturbances. Sleep disparities between immigrants and non-immigrants may be influenced by emotional distress. Migration health care should address emotional distress, a more proximal and modifiable factor, as a possible cause of insomnia symptoms in immigrants. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Italian Portuguese Trouble falling asleep German Early morning awakening Restless sleep

Index Keywords

Germany immigrant sleep demography Portugal Emotions mental health human risk assessment middle aged Stress, Psychological social aspect mental stress comparative study Health Surveys insomnia Young Adult Humans migrant psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants female Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders symptom prevalence emotional stress Article health care emotion data set major clinical study adult outcome assessment Italy Switzerland pathophysiology public health health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85060401398&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16020289&partnerID=40&md5=959629493e817f9a9e34456e920f7b07
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16020289
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English