Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T03:41:39.123Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mental health of patients from different cultures in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

U. Wittig ,
J. Lindert ,
M. Merbach  and
E. Brähler
U. Wittig*
Affiliation:
University Clinic of Leipzig, Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Leipzig, Germany
J. Lindert
Affiliation:
Protestant University Ludwigsburg, Germany
M. Merbach
Affiliation:
University Clinic of Leipzig, Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Leipzig, Germany
E. Brähler
Affiliation:
University Clinic of Leipzig, Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Leipzig, Germany
*
⁎Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] (U. Wittig).
Get access

Abstract

Background

Empirical studies on migration and mental health of migrants are still rare. In Germany they are often characterised by low sample sizes and are limited to certain diseases and geographical areas (old federal states). The comparability of their results is limited. Nonetheless, the assessment of migrants’ health is necessary for adequate medical and psychosocial care for this target group.

Aim

To provide data on mental health of migrants from Poland and from Vietnam in Germany. Methods: We have assessed a random sample of migrants from Poland (n=140) and from Vietnam (n=88) using the Giessen Subjective Complaints List – 24 (GSCL-24) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Additionally we asked migrants about their knowledge of health care institutions in case of psychosocial problems, their demands and the existing barriers to health care utilisation.

Results

Migrants from Poland and Vietnam have a higher general score of complaints of physical ill-health and higher anxiety and depression values than Germans. Psychosocial and medical institutions are visited less.

Conclusion

Further analytical studies are needed to clarify health differences between these groups. Migrants are a heterogeneous group and only group-specific investigations will clarify associations between countries of origin, health status and use of health care institutions.

Keywords

MigrationHealth statusPsychosocial problemsHealth care utilization
Type
Research Article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 23 , Issue S1: Transcultural psychiatry in Europe , January 2008 , pp. s28 - s35
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brähler, E., Merbach, M., Siefen, R.G., Wittig, U.Determinanten und Veränderungen der gesundheitlichen Identität beim Kulturwechsel am Beispiel der Spätaussiedler und türkischen Migranten. Leipzig: Abschlussbericht: 2004Google Scholar
Brähler, E., Scheer, J.Gießener Beschwerdebogen (GBB). 2Aufl. Bern: Huber: 1995Google Scholar
Brähler, E., Schumacher, J., Brähler, C.Erste gesamtdeutsche Normierung der Kurzform des Gießener Beschwerdebogens GBB-24. Psychoth Psychosom Med Psychol 2000; 50: 14–21CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. Migration, Asyl und Integration. Nürnberg; 2006.Google Scholar
Faltermaier, T.Migration und Gesundheit: Fragen und Konzepte aus einer salutogenetischen und gesundheitspsychologischen Perspektive. Marschalck, P., Wiedl, K.H.Migration und Krankheit: Probleme der Forschung Probleme der Versorgung: Osnabrück: Universitätsverlag Rasch, 2001; 93–112Google Scholar
Gilgen, D., Maeusezahl, D., Gross, C.S., Battegay, E., Flubacher, P., Tanner, M., et al.Impact of migration on illness experience and help-seeking strategies of patients from Turkey and Bosnia in primary health care in Basel. Health & Place 2005; 113: 261–273CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Herrmann, C., Buss, U., Snaith, R.P.HADS-D Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Deutsche Version. Bern: Huber: 1995Google Scholar
Herschbach, P.Über den Unterschied zwischen Patienten und Kranken. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 1995; 45: 83–89Google Scholar
Hessel, A., Geyer, M., Plöttner, G., Schmidt, B., Brähler, E.Subjektive Einschätzung der eigenen Gesundheit und subjektive Morbidität in Deutschland. Ergebnisse einer bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Befragung. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 1999; 49: 264–274Google Scholar
Hinz, A., Schwarz, R.Angst und Depression in der Allgemeinbevölkerung: eine Normierungsstudie zur Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 2001; 51: 193–200CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hsu, S.I.Somatisation among Asian refugees and immigrants as a culturally-shaped illness behaviour. Ann Acad Med Singapore 1999; 28 (6): 841–845Google ScholarPubMed
Kirkcaldy, B., Wittig, U., Furnahm, A., Merbach, M., Siefen, R.G.Migration und Gesundheit. Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz 2006; 49: 873–883CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kleinman, A.Culture and Depression. N Engl Med 2004; 351 (10): 951–953CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koptagel-Ilal, G.Kreative und destruktive Aspekte der Migration und der Begegnung mit dem Fremden. Curare 2000; 23 (2): 105–109Google Scholar
Krohne, H.W.Stress und Stressbewältigung. Schwarer, R.Gesundheitspsychologie Ein Lehrbuch: Göttingen: Hogrefe, 1990; 263–277Google Scholar
Krones, T.Nationalität, Migration und Gesundheitszustand. Mielck, A., Bloomfield, K.Sozialepidemiologie. Eine Einführung in die Grundlagen, Ergebnisse und Umsetzungsmöglichkeiten Weinheim: Juventa, 2001; 95–106Google Scholar
Mavreas, V., Bebbington, P.Acculturation and psychiatric disorder: a study of Greek Cypriot immigrants. Psychol Med 1990; 20: 941–951CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McElroy, A., Jezewski, M.A.Cultural variation in the experience of health and illness 4. Albrecht, G.L., Fitzpatrick, R., Scrimshaw, S.C.The Handbook of Social Studies in Health and Medicine London: Sage, 2000; 191–209CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKay, L., Macintyre, S., Ellaway, A.Migration and Health: A Review of the International Literature. 12 EdGlasgow: MRC Social & Public Health Science Unit, 2003Google Scholar
Merbach M. Gesund durch Anpassung? unveröffentlichte Dissertation Ed. Leipzig; 2005.Google Scholar
Ministerium für Frauen; Jugend und Gesundheit des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen. Gesundheit von Zuwanderern in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Düsseldorf: MfJFG; 2000.Google Scholar
Neutsch, C., Pallaske, C., Steinert, O. Polnische Migranten in Deutschland. Interregiones 1999; 95–121Google Scholar
Petermann, F., Mühlig, S.Grundlagen und Möglichkeiten der Compliance Verbesserung 5. Petermann, F.Compliance und Selbstmanagement Göttingen: Hogrefe, 1998; 73–102Google Scholar
Ritsner, M., Ponizovsky, A., Kurs, R., Modai, I.Somatization in an immigrant population in Israel: a community survey of prevalence, risk factors, and help-seeking behavior. Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157 (3): 385–392CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ritsner, M., Ponizovsky, A., Nechamkin, Y., Modai, I.Gender differences in psychosocial risk factors for psychological distress among immigrants. Comprehensive Psychiatry 2001; 42: 151–160CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robert, S.A., House, J.S.Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health. Integrating individual, community and societal-level Theory and Research. Albrecht, G.L., Fritzpatrick, R., Scrimshaw, S.C.The Handbook of social studies in health and medicine London: Sage Publications, 2000; 115–135CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schahnaz F. Kurzrecherche zur psychosozialen Versorgung der Migrantinnen und Migranten in Rheinland Pfalz und Mainz. http://www.cmb-mainz.de/download/Kurzrecherche.rtf. 1998. 23-11-2006.Google Scholar
Siefen, R.G., Brähler, E.Migration und Gesundheit. Psychosozial 1996Google Scholar
Siegrist, J.The Social Causation of Health and Illness. Albrecht, G.L., Fritzpatrick, R., Scrimshaw, S.C.The Handbook of Social Studies in Health and Medicine London: Sage Publications, 2000; 100–114CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stadt Leipzig. Ausländer in Leipzig 2006. Leipzig: Amt für Statistik und Wahlen; 2007.Google Scholar
Statistisches Bundesamt. Ausländische Bevölkerung am 31.12.2006 nach Geschlecht für die am häufigsten vertretenen Staatsangehörigkeiten. www.destatis.de/themen/d/thm_bevoelk.php: 31-5-2007.Google Scholar
Sundquist, J., Bayard-Burfield, L., Johansson, L.M., Johansson, S.E.Impact of ethnicity, violence and acculturation on displaced migrants: psychological distress and psychosomatic complaints among refugees in Sweden. J Nerv Ment Dis 2000; 188 (6): 357–365CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weilandt C, Rommel A, Raven U. Gutachten zur psychischen, psychosozialen und psychosomatischen Gesundheit und Versorgung von Migrantinnen in NRW. Bonn: Wissenschaftliches Institut der Ärzte Deutschlands (WIAD) e.V.; 2003.Google Scholar
Williams, R., Eley, S., Hunt, K., Bhatt, S.Has Psychological Distress Among UK South Asians Been Underestimated? A comparison of three measures in the west of Scotland population. Ethn Health 1997; 2: 21–29CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wittig, U., Merbach, M., Siefen, R.G., Brähler, E.Beschwerden und Inanspruchnahme des Gesundheitswesens von Spätaussiedlern bei Einreise nach Deutschland. Gesundheitswesen 2004; 66: 85–92Google Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.