Nervenheilkunde
Volume 33, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 419-426

Acculturation styles and depressivity of migrants [Akkulturationsstile und Depressivität von Migranten] (Article)

Del Pozo M.A.* , Behrens K. , Schulz W. , Graef-Calliess I.T.
  • a Institut für Psychologie, Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, Zur Buchhorst 1, 38162 Cremlingen, Germany
  • b Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  • c Institut für Psychologie, Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, Zur Buchhorst 1, 38162 Cremlingen, Germany
  • d Zentrum Transkulturelle Psychiatrie and Psychotherapie, Klinikum Wahrendorff Sehnde/Hannover, Forschungsgruppe Soziale und Transkulturelle Psychiatrie and Psychotherapie, Germany

Abstract

Objective: The depressivity and preferred acculturation style of migrants who consulted the Spezialsprechstunde für Migration und seelische Gesundheit of the Hanover Medical School were analyzed. Material and methods: A semi-structured interview including questionnaires assessing socio-demographic information, migration trauma, depressivity and acculturation style were administered. Results: Integrated migrants had less psychological strain, while assimilated migrants had significantly higher depressive scores. It could also be found that not only did involuntariness to originally migrate tendentiously increase the risk of developing depressivity, but that the country of origin appears to influence a migrant's voluntariness to migrate as well. The factors migrating for economic reasons, being from Poland, being integrated and when it was unclear whether pre-migration trauma had occurred predicted psychological wellbeing best. Conclusion: Integration as an acculturation style seems to be the most protective in preventing further mental health decline. Clinical relevance: Sensitization for the different acculturation styles and the correlation with emotional strain; possible implications resulting from this for clinical practice and prevention.

Author Keywords

Migration Acculturation style Depressivity

Index Keywords

Poland semi structured interview depression clinical practice cultural factor Article psychological well being human migrant
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84902388053&partnerID=40&md5=d80b20cb0e6bdb4825952207376aa22c
ISSN: 07221541
Cited by: 1
Original Language: German