Health and emigration: subjective evaluation of health status and physical symptoms in Russian-speaking migrants

Abstract

This is a longitudinal study exploring self‐reported health status and physical symptoms of Russian‐speaking migrants (n = 307) from the states formed after the break up of the Soviet Union. These health status reports were compared with Russians in Russia (n = 300) and non‐immigrant native German test subjects (n = 310). Focus was on the change in subjective evaluation of physical health and adaptation to a new medical health care system as part of the acculturation process following migration. Migrants have more health problems than both the Russians and the native population. In addition to the stress triggered by the critical life event of migration, this finding may also reflect the poorer health status and health care in the countries of origin. In particular, immigrants suffer from headaches and symptoms of exhaustion, which are interpreted as physical correlates of the cognitive overload caused by migration. The subjective state of health of the migrants within the first 18–24 months after arrival (N = 138) showed hardly any changes. However, a high degree of satisfaction with life in the adopted country and an acculturation style distinguished by contact with the host culture correlate to a low level of health problems. The social implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Acculturation Expectations and Experiences as Predictors of Ethnic Migrants’ Psychological Well-Being

“…Despite these positive anticipations, the respondents experienced upcoming migration as a relatively stressful event. However, their average stress level decreased after migration, and there was no difference between T 1 and T 2 assessments of psychological well-being, even though a decrease in well-being is typical for the postmigration stage (e.g., Kirkcaldy et al, 2005;Lerner et al, 2005;Ritsner & Ponizovsky, 1999;Ward, 2001). These positive findings may be explained by the different role of affective dimension as compared to the other two acculturation dimensions: Decreased psychological stress may be seen as a reactive response to ethnic migrants' positive acculturation experiences in the behavioral dimension of acculturation after migration (cf., Jasinskaja-Lahti, 2008).…”

Health and migration. Psychosocial determinants

“…Soziale Unterstützung, insbesondere durch Fami lienmitglieder, Freunde und Bekannte, stellt eine wichtige Ressource bei der Bewältigung von Stress und für die psychische Anpassung und Gesundheit im Verlauf des Übergangs von einer Kultur in eine andere dar [18]. Der Zusammenhang zwischen sozialer Unterstützung und psychischem Wohlbefinden von Migranten ist vielfach belegt.…”

A comparison of general and illness-related locus of control in Russians, ethnic German migrants and Germans

“…Because the ethnic German migrants are among the largest immigrant groups in Germany, it is critical to study the subjective theories of health and illness of these groups. In a recent study, Kirkcaldy et al (2005) explored the subjective evaluation of health status and physical symptoms among Russian-speaking migrants in Germany, and found that migrants had more health problems than both Russians and the native population. In addition to general stress triggered by the process of migration, migrants suffered more from headaches and symptoms of exhaustion, which were interpreted as physical correlates of psychological pressure.…”