Patterns of risk for anxiety-depression amongst Vietnamese-immigrants: a comparison with source and host populations

Abstract

BackgroundStudies suggest that immigrants have higher rates of anxiety-depression than compatriots in low-middle income countries and lower rates than populations in host high income countries. Elucidating the factors that underlie these stepwise variations in prevalence may throw new light on the pathogenesis of anxiety-depressive disorders globally. This study aimed to examine whether quantitative differences in exposure to, or the interaction between, risk factors account for these anxiety-depression prevalence differences amongst immigrant relative to source and host country populations.MethodsMultistage population mental health surveys were conducted in three groups: 1) a Vietnamese-immigrant sample settled in Australia (n = 1161); 2) a Vietnamese source country sample residing in the Mekong Delta region (n = 3039); 3) an Australian-born host country sample (n = 7964). Multivariable logistic regression analyses compared risk factors between the Vietnamese-immigrant group and: 1) the Mekong Delta Vietnamese; and 2) the Australian-born group. Twelve month anxiety-depression diagnoses were the main outcome measures, derived from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), supplemented by an indigenously derived measure - the Phan Vietnamese Psychiatric Scale (PVPS) in both Vietnamese groups.ResultsThe 12-month prevalence of anxiety-depression showed a stepwise increase across groups: Mekong Delta Vietnamese 4.8%; Vietnamese-immigrants 7.0%; Australian-born 10.2%. The two Vietnamese populations showed a similar risk profile with older age, exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), multiple physical illnesses and substance use disorder (SUD) being associated with anxiety-depression, with the older Vietnamese-immigrants reporting greater exposure to these factors. The interaction between key risk factors differed fundamentally when comparing Vietnamese-immigrant and Australian-born samples. Age emerged as the major discriminator, with young Vietnamese-immigrants exhibiting particularly low rates of anxiety-depression.ConclusionsThe findings reported here suggest that core risk factors for anxiety-depression may be universal, but their patterning and interaction may differ according to country-of-origin. The study also highlights the importance of including both standard international and culturally-specific measures to index cross-cultural manifestations of common mental disorders.

Mental Health Determinants Among a Psychiatric Outpatient Sample of Vietnamese Migrants in Germany

“…Regarding the factor age , most studies on other migrant populations have revealed a mental health advantage for younger ( 45 ) and disadvantage for older ( 46 ) migrants while the middle-aged frequently appear relatively unaffected. Therefore, concerning our Vietnamese sample, it cannot be entirely determined if age indeed was not a mental health key factor or if it has merely not unfolded its full effect since our participants were, on average, 45 years old and thus not part of any risk group.…”

“…Therefore, concerning our Vietnamese sample, it cannot be entirely determined if age indeed was not a mental health key factor or if it has merely not unfolded its full effect since our participants were, on average, 45 years old and thus not part of any risk group. Regarding the factor gender , several studies have revealed a heightened mental health risk for female Vietnamese ( 45 ). However, some studies on other migrant populations have reported the opposite; for example, increased PTSD rates among male migrants in Finland ( 47 ).…”

A Comparative Study of Mental Health Care Utilization Between Foreign‐born Adults and U.S.‐BORN Adults

“…The likelihood of MHC utilization is significantly correlated with perceived needs (e.g., anxiety, depression, substance abuse; S.-L. L. Williams, 2014). Some previous studies suggested that because of the immigration experience, foreign-born adults face more mental stressors and problems compared to the U.S.-born population (Leong & Lau, 2001), including anxiety (Liddell et al, 2013), depression (Antoniades, Mazza, & Brijnath, 2014), posttraumatic stress disorder (Eisenbruch, 1991), substance abuse (De La Rosa, Babino, Rosario, Martinez, & Aijaz, 2012), and other severe mental illnesses (Saechao et al, 2012;David T. Takeuchi, Akgría, Jackson, & Williams, 2007).…”

The prevalence and burden of psychiatric disorders in primary health care visits in Qatar: Too little time?

“…[ 14 15 ] Certain demographic and psychosocial risk factors for anxiety-depression appear to be universal, in particular,[ 16 17 18 19 ] female gender;[ 16 ] unemployment;[ 17 ] lower levels of education;[ 18 ] young (vs. older) adulthood;[ 19 ] co-morbid substance use disorder (SUD);[ 20 ] physical ill-health;[ 21 ] and exposure to potentially traumatic events or postpartum depression. [ 22 23 ]…”