Loneliness among Chinese Migrants in Portugal

Abstract The goal of this research is to explore the acculturation and adaptation factors that are likely to predict the level of loneliness among Chinese migrants residing in Portugal. The sample is constituted by one hundred and eighty-nine participants (25 percent women and 75 percent men) with an average age of 29 years. The average length of sojourn was 8 years. We used the ULS-6 scale to assess loneliness. Other instruments were utilized to evaluate ethnic identity, perceived discrimination, mental health, sociocultural adaptation, and tolerance. In agreement with expectations, ethnic identity negatively predicted loneliness, and perceived discrimination positively predicted loneliness. Lastly, sociocultural adaptation and tolerance negatively predicted loneliness, and mental health problems positively predicted loneliness. The adaptation factors predicted 60 percent of the variance in loneliness. Implications of these findings for reducing migrants’ loneliness are considered.

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Predictors of mental health among Angolan migrants living in Portugal

International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care ◽

10.1108/ijmhsc-03-2017-0006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 146-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Félix Neto ◽

Tharina Guse

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Predictive Factors ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Health Problems ◽

Future Research ◽

Sociocultural Adaptation ◽

Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of mental health among Angolan migrants living in Portugal. Three research questions guided this work: What is the influence of demographic factors on the mental health of Angolan migrants? What is the influence of acculturation factors on their mental health? What is the influence of adaptation factors on their mental health? Design/methodology/approach The sample consisted of 252 Angolan migrants living in Portugal (50.8 percent females) with a mean age of 36 years. The mean duration of stay in Portugal was 21 years. Findings The predictive factors – demographic, acculturation and adaptation factors – were significantly associated with Angolan migrants’ mental health. However, acculturation and adaptation factors accounted for a larger proportion of the explained variance in mental health problems than demographic factors. The major predictors of mental health problems were sociocultural adaptation, perceived discrimination and loneliness. Implications of the findings for future research and psychosocial interventions are discussed. Originality/value This study shed some light on the predictive factors of mental health problems among adult Angolan immigrants in Portugal, a previously neglected group of migrants in the research literature. Adding to existing knowledge on the mental health outcomes of migration, the findings suggest that, for this group, sociocultural adaptation, perceived discrimination and loneliness were the main predictors of psychological problems, rather than demographic factors. This evidence may be useful in the development of psychosocial interventions and policy to support Angolan migrants in their adaptation to Portuguese culture.

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Mental health of the non-heterosexual population of England

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.110.082271 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 198 (2) ◽

pp. 143-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 130

Author(s):

Apu Chakraborty ◽

Sally McManus ◽

Terry S. Brugha ◽

Paul Bebbington ◽

Michael King

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Orientation ◽

Drug Dependence ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Health Problems ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Self Harm ◽

Depressive Episodes

BackgroundThere has been little research into the prevalence of mental health problems in lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in the UK with most work conducted in the USA.AimsTo relate the prevalence of mental disorder, self-harm and suicide attempts to sexual orientation in England, and to test whether psychiatric problems were associated with discrimination on grounds of sexuality.MethodThe Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007 (n = 7403) was representative of the population living in private UK households. Standardised questions provided demographic information. Neurotic symptoms, common mental disorders, probable psychosis, suicidality, alcohol and drug dependence and service utilisation were assessed. In addition, detailed information was obtained about aspects of sexual identity and perceived discrimination on these grounds.ResultsSelf-reported identification as non-heterosexual (determined by both orientation and sexual partnership, separately) was associated with unhappiness, neurotic disorders overall, depressive episodes, generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, phobic disorder, probable psychosis, suicidal thoughts and acts, self-harm and alcohol and drug dependence. Mental health-related general practitioner consultations and community care service use over the previous year were also elevated. In the non-heterosexual group, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation predicted certain neurotic disorder outcomes, even after adjustment for potentially confounding demographic variables.ConclusionsThis study corroborates international findings that people of non-heterosexual orientation report elevated levels of mental health problems and service usage, and it lends further support to the suggestion that perceived discrimination may act as a social stressor in the genesis of mental health problems in this population.

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Perceived Discrimination Is a Potential Contributing Factor to Substance Use and Mental Health Problems Among Primary Care Patients in Chile

Journal of Addiction Medicine ◽

10.1097/adm.0b013e3182664d80 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 297-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nicole M. Capezza ◽

Caron Zlotnick ◽

Robert Kohn ◽

Benjamin Vicente ◽

Sandra Saldivia

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Substance Use ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Health Problems ◽

Primary Care Patients

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Association between public views of mental illness and self-stigma among individuals with mental illness in 14 European countries

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291711002558 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 42 (8) ◽

pp. 1741-1752 ◽

Cited By ~ 195

Author(s):

S. Evans-Lacko ◽

E. Brohan ◽

R. Mojtabai ◽

G. Thornicroft

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Health Problems ◽

European Countries ◽

Mental Illness Stigma ◽

Public Stigma ◽

The Public

BackgroundLittle is known about how the views of the public are related to self-stigma among people with mental health problems. Despite increasing activity aimed at reducing mental illness stigma, there is little evidence to guide and inform specific anti-stigma campaign development and messages to be used in mass campaigns. A better understanding of the association between public knowledge, attitudes and behaviours and the internalization of stigma among people with mental health problems is needed.MethodThis study links two large, international datasets to explore the association between public stigma in 14 European countries (Eurobarometer survey) and individual reports of self-stigma, perceived discrimination and empowerment among persons with mental illness (n=1835) residing in those countries [the Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks (GAMIAN) study].ResultsIndividuals with mental illness living in countries with less stigmatizing attitudes, higher rates of help-seeking and treatment utilization and better perceived access to information had lower rates of self-stigma and perceived discrimination and those living in countries where the public felt more comfortable talking to people with mental illness had less self-stigma and felt more empowered.ConclusionsTargeting the general public through mass anti-stigma interventions may lead to a virtuous cycle by disrupting the negative feedback engendered by public stigma, thereby reducing self-stigma among people with mental health problems. A combined approach involving knowledge, attitudes and behaviour is needed; mass interventions that facilitate disclosure and positive social contact may be the most effective. Improving availability of information about mental health issues and facilitating access to care and help-seeking also show promise with regard to stigma.

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Immigration, perceived discrimination and mental health: evidence from Venezuelan population living in Peru

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-020-00655-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Benoît Mougenot ◽

Elard Amaya ◽

Edward Mezones-Holguin ◽

Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales ◽

Báltica Cabieses

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Propensity Score ◽

Propensity Score Matching ◽

Regression Models ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Health Problems ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Venezuelan Population

Abstract Background The association between international migration and mental health is conditioned to several factors, and discrimination may play a significant role. Currently, Peru is one of the principal Venezuelan migrant-receiving countries in Latin America. There are around one million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the country. This study evaluates the association between self-perceived discrimination and mental health problems in Venezuelan population living in Peru. Method We analyzed data from the Venezuelan Population Residing in Peru Survey 2018, a nationally representative urban sample aimed at collecting information on several dimensions of Venezuelan population wellbeing. We applied logistic regression models to assess the association between self-perceived discrimination and mental health problems. Moreover, we applied the propensity score matching method as a robustness check of our results. Results Of 9487 Venezuelans surveyed, 6806 included complete information. From this sample, 6.3% reported mental health problems related to fear, anger, anxiety, or stress. Logistic regression models showed that Venezuelans who perceived being discriminated against had 2.4 higher odds of presenting mental health problems than their non-discriminated counterparts. Moreover, propensity score matching models showed that Venezuelans who perceived being discriminated against increased by 3.5 percentage points their probability of presenting mental health problems compared to their non-discriminated counterparts. Conclusions There is evidence that self-perceived discrimination is associated with mental health deterioration in Venezuelan migrants living in Peru. Our findings are relevant in the current geopolitical context and could be useful in the decision making processes in international health.

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Ethnic Identity and Collective Self-Esteem Mediate the Effect of Anxiety and Depression on Quality of Life in a Migrant Population

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19010174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 174

Author(s):

Alfonso Urzúa ◽

Diego Henríquez ◽

Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar ◽

Rodrigo Landabur

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Ethnic Identity ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Health Problems ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Collective Self ◽

Collective Self Esteem

Migration processes can often trigger negative interactions with the context, generating problems in both the physical and mental health of migrants, which have an impact on both their well-being and their quality of life. In this framework, the research aimed to assess the mediating effect of ethnic identity and collective self-esteem on the inverse relationship between mental health problems and quality of life. Data were collected from 908 first-generation Colombian migrants living in Chile, of whom 50.2% were women and with an average age of 35 years. They were assessed with The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL)-Bref, Smith’s ethnic identity questionnaire, Basabe’s collective self-esteem, and Beck’s Anxiety and Depression questionnaires. The results provide evidence that both collective self-esteem and ethnic identity exert a partial mediation effect on the relationship between anxiety and depression on quality of life. The study provides evidence of the protective role that the maintenance and reinforcement of ethnic identity and collective self-esteem can have, with a view to strengthening the planning of interventions both in the field of prevention of mental health problems and in the improvement of quality of life based on evidence.

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Mental Health Problems of Children: Analysis of a Cumulative Psychiatric Case Register

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.73.6.781 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 73 (6) ◽

pp. 781-790

Author(s):

Klaus J. Roghmann ◽

Thomas R. Zastowny ◽

Haroutun M. Babigian

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

New York ◽

Health Status ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Average Length ◽

Health Problems ◽

Case Register ◽

Length Of Treatment ◽

Episodes Of Care

The advent of community mental health centers has brought a marked increase in treatment of mental health problems of children, especially for minorities. The number of children receiving care and the prevalence and the utilization rates by age, sex, and race from 1960 to 1977 in a large metropolitan county in upstate New York have been described previously. For the same time and community, the episodes of care by diagnostic grouping, type and length of treatment, and health status at the end of an episode have now been examined. An increase in treatment occurred in two areas: situational disorders and behavioral disorders. The number of treatments for psychotic, neurotic, and personality disorders remained stable. Affective and psychotic disorders emerged as qualitatively unique problems which often required multiple treatments and predicted high adult utilization. The average length of treatment for all episodes was 110 days. One third of the treatment episodes were associated with an improved health status. Most contacts were for first episodes, but a few patients had an extraordinarily large number of treatment episodes. A comparison with mental health problems seen in pediatric practice is presented.

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Intercultural Relations Among Guinean Immigrants Living in Portugal: Testing Multiculturalism, Contact, and Integration Hypotheses

Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies ◽

10.29333/ejecs/641 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 225

Author(s):

Félix Neto

Keyword(s):

Cultural Identity ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Average Length ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Intercultural Relations ◽

Sociocultural Adaptation ◽

Guinea Bissau ◽

Average Length Of Stay ◽

Integration Strategy ◽

Intercultural Adaptation

This study tests several specific predictions derived from three general core hypotheses of intercultural relations (multiculturalism, contact, and integration hypotheses). The participants were 405 migrants from Guinea-Bissau (51 percent women). Their average age was 38 years. The average length of stay in Portugal was 18 years. Data collection involved the completion of questionnaires to measure multicultural ideology, security, cultural identity, contact, perceived discrimination, acculturation strategies, mental health problems, sociocultural adaptation, and tolerance. In concert with the multiculturalism hypothesis, security and cultural identity positively predicted multicultural ideology. The contact hypothesis was partially confirmed given that intercultural contact did not predict perceived discrimination, although contact predicted national identity. Regarding the integration hypothesis, integration strategy predicted psychological and intercultural adaptations, while the predictors of sociocultural adaptation were assimilation and marginalization. Hence, the integration hypothesis obtained partial support for migrants from Guinea-Bissau residing in Portugal. Finally, some implications of the findings are discussed. This study contributes to extending the integration hypothesis to a recently suggested new form of adaptation, intercultural adaptation. Feelings of being secure in the larger society and one’s identity contributes to higher acceptance of diversity.

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