This study examines ethnic and gender differences in exposure to discrimination and its association with depressive symptoms among five immigrant groups. Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 900 adult immigrants (50.8 % men, 49.2 % women) sampled from five ethnic immigrant communities in Toronto between April and September 2001. Men reported higher levels of discrimination than women. Ethiopians had the highest perception of discrimination followed by Korean, Iranian, Vietnamese, and Irish immigrants. With regard to discrimination-related depressive symptoms, Iranian and Korean men showed a greater risk than their Irish counterparts. Among women, Vietnamese and Irish seemed to be more vulnerable to discrimination than other ethnic groups. Despite experiencing the highest level of discrimination, Ethiopian men and women showed no association between discrimination and depressive symptoms. The exposure and psychological response to discrimination vary significantly across ethnicities and gender. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Immigrant health Gender discrimination Ethnicity Depressive symptoms

Vietnam South Korea depression Republic of Korea human sex difference middle aged Ethnic Groups statistics and numerical data ethnic group Aged ethnology Iran Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant racism Ireland Adolescent psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants Humans female Aged, 80 and over Viet Nam very elderly Ethiopia Ontario adult Sex Factors