International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Volume 55, Issue 6, 2009, Pages 557-568

Migration and mental health: A study of low-income Ethiopian women working in Middle Eastern Countries (Article)

Anbesse B. , Hanlon C.* , Alem A. , Packer S. , Whitley R.
  • a St Paul's General Specialized Hospital, PO Box 31657, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • b King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom
  • c Department of Psychiatry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • d University of Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Centre, Lebanon, NH, United States

Abstract

Background: Few studies have explored influences on mental health of migrants moving between non-Western countries. Methods: Focus group discussions were used to explore the experiences of Ethiopian female domestic migrants to Middle Eastern countries, comparing those who developed severe mental illness with those remaining mentally well. Discussion: Prominent self-identified threats to mental health included exploitative treatment, enforced cultural isolation, undermining of cultural identity and disappointment in not achieving expectations. Participants countered these risks by affirming their cultural identity and establishing socio-cultural supports. Conclusions: Mental health of migrant domestic workers may be jeopardized by stressors, leading to experience of social defeat. © 2009 SAGE Publications.

Author Keywords

Migration Ethiopia Mental health qualitative Middle East

Index Keywords

Psychiatric Department, Hospital lowest income group poverty mental health Developing Countries human Life Change Events Social Identification Middle East ethnic group controlled study Job Satisfaction Work Schedule Tolerance Mental Disorders mental disease Young Adult migrant worker social status Humans Domestic Violence female Risk Factors workload cultural factor Article Ethiopia adult migration sexual harassment occupational health Transients and Migrants Battered Women Focus Groups Hospitals, Psychiatric
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-71049123194&doi=10.1177%2f0020764008096704&partnerID=40&md5=6db06df5b33baacc9d92e09c2f0a1928
DOI: 10.1177/0020764008096704
ISSN: 00207640
Cited by: 26
Original Language: English