Psychosocial health among immigrants in central and southern Europe

Abstract

Migration exposes people to a number of risks that threaten their health, including those related to psychosocial health. Self-perceived health is usually the main indicator used to assess psychosocial health. Electronic databases were used to examine the literature on the psychosocial health of immigrants in Europe and of North Africans living in their own countries. Immigrants of various ethnic groups show a similar risk of psychosocial disorders but generally present a higher risk than the local population. This risk is related to gender (being higher in women), poor socio-economic status and acculturation, discrimination, time elapsed since migration and age on arrival in the new country. Although the stressors and situations the different ethnic groups experience in the host country may be shared, the way they deal with them may differ according to cultural factors. There is a need to collect detailed data on psychosocial health among the various immigrant groups in Europe, as well as to monitor this aspect in North African residents who lack access to specific services.

Body image perception of African immigrants in Europe

“…During the complex immigration process, everything that surrounds the person changes, including the diet, social and family relationships, climate and culture [47]. Factors such as acculturation, enculturation and socio-economic status (SES) have a strong effect on many parameters, including weight status and perception of body size.…”

Healthcare staff’s evaluation of a walk‐in centre at a healthcare centre in an immigrant‐dense area

“…In the same way, the migration in itself implies different impressions of different individuals, the reasons they had to migrate and their perceptions of their past lives, which affects health conditions in the new country (Toselli, Gualdi-Russo, Marzouk, Sundquist, & Sundquist, 2014).…”

“…With different ethnic and historical roots, various cultures and different ways of taking care of their health, it is difficult to generalise the group’s needs. In the same way, the migration in itself implies different impressions of different individuals, the reasons they had to migrate and their perceptions of their past lives, which affects health conditions in the new country (Toselli, Gualdi‐Russo, Marzouk, Sundquist, & Sundquist, ).…”

Brechas de desigualdad en salud en niños migrantes versus locales en Chile

“…El estado de salud física de los niños migrantes después del nacimiento se ha estudiado con menos rigor, pero hay indicios de mayor prevalencia de caries dentales, algunas enfermedades infecciosas 10,12 y obesidad 13 . También se han reportado problemas de salud mental e integración psicosocial 14,15 . Es importante reconocer que diversos estudios se han centrado en la salud mental de este grupo, pero ha sido difícil obtener resultados concluyentes debido a las diferentes metodologías de estudio, definiciones y contextos de los migrantes internacionales entre los países estudiados 16 .…”