International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Volume 54, Issue 4, 2008, Pages 338-349

Measuring acculturation and symptoms of depression of foreign immigrants in the Athens area (Article)

Madianos M.G.* , Gonidakis F. , Ploubidis D. , Papadopoulou E. , Rogakou E.
  • a Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • b Transcultural Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • c Community Mental Health Centre, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • d Transcultural Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • e Eginition Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Abstract

Background: Acculturation is the phenomenon that results when a group with one culture comes into continuous contact with a host culture and changes occur in the original culture of either one or both groups. Acculturation has also been linked with stress-related psychological disorder and depression. Aims: This article investigates the acculturation process and the depressive state of foreign immigrants living in the greater Athens area. Methods: All consecutive cases of 157 foreign immigrants who visited a non-governmental organization (NGO) providing consultative services to immigrants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire including the Immigrant Acculturation Scale (IAS) and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression (CES-D) scale. Results: Factor analysis of IAS yielded a three-factor solution and 17 items with loadings ranging from 0.74 to 0.41. This scale was also tested and proven to be reliable. The main finding is that the higher the acculturation level of the immigrant individual, the lower the CES-D scale score; the fewer the depressive symptoms are self-reported. Length of stay, existence of family in Greece, legal status of residence and employment were also found to have an effect on depressive symptomatology. Conclusion: Acculturation could be seen as a beneficial mechanism protecting the individual to be exposed to stressful non-adaptive behaviour. © 2008 Sage Publications.

Author Keywords

Immigration Depressive state Adaptation Acculturation

Index Keywords

immigrant depression Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale human immigration Self Report protection Ethnic Groups controlled study Time Factors interview Humans family male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female stress reliability Greece cultural factor Article social adaptation Questionnaires adult major clinical study legal aspect Catchment Area (Health) factorial analysis Depressive Disorder, Major structured questionnaire employment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-47349101485&doi=10.1177%2f0020764008090288&partnerID=40&md5=3d5d83742ac9b5d917eab3323eb4690b
DOI: 10.1177/0020764008090288
ISSN: 00207640
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English