International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Volume 55, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 272-287

Employment status, duration of residence and mental health among skilled migrants to New Zealand: Results of a longitudinal study (Article)

Pernice R.* , Trlin A. , Henderson A. , North N. , Skinner M.
  • a Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
  • b Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
  • c Independent Researcher, Palmerston North, New Zealand
  • d University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • e Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract

Aims: To report findings on employment, duration of residence and mental health from a longitudinal study of 107 skilled immigrants to New Zealand from the People's Republic of China, India and South Africa. Methods: Demographic and employment data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire that included (as the mental health instrument) the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). The initial interview took place after the immigrants had been resident in New Zealand for an average of five months. Four subsequent interviews were conducted annually (1999-2002) on or about the anniversary of the first interview. Results and Conclusion: Rather than an initial euphoric period followed by a mental health crisis, the results indicated poor mental health status in the first two years irrespective of employment status. Thereafter, mental health slightly improved as did employment rates. A surprising result was that although the South Africans had the highest employment rate, there were neither substantial mental health differences among the three groups nor was there a significant improvement during the course of the longitudinal study. © 2009 SAGE Publications.

Author Keywords

immigrants Employment Mental health New Zealand Duration of residence

Index Keywords

China longitudinal study India demography mental health human Longitudinal Studies Refugees controlled study Time Factors housing Residence Characteristics South Africa interview migrant worker Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Article Personnel Selection employment status adult New Zealand General Health Questionnaire structured questionnaire employment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-65449170384&doi=10.1177%2f0020764008093685&partnerID=40&md5=6b7762cf37f0826d0d4afd57588844ee
DOI: 10.1177/0020764008093685
ISSN: 00207640
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English