Self-Rated Health and Postnatal Depressive Symptoms Among Immigrant Mothers in Québec

Abstract

Data from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development were used to examine factors associated with postnatal depression and the links between self-rated health (SRH) and depressive symptoms in mothers 5 months after giving birth, according to immigration status. Postnatal depressive symptoms were measured using the 12-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Immigrant mothers were classified according to their ethnocultural (majority or minority) group and compared with Canadian-born mothers. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between SRH and depressive symptoms. The prevalence of high depressive symptoms was larger among immigrants from minority groups (24.7%) than among immigrants from majority groups (8.3%) and Canadian-born mothers 11.2%). SRH was associated with depressive symptoms among Canadian- born mothers, but not among minority immigrant mothers. Canadian- born mothers integrated mental health into their assessment of overall health status, however, depressive symptoms among minority immigrant mothers were common, and their determinants warrant further research.

Migration and social determinants of mental health: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey

“…20,21 For example, some studies in specific Canadian cities report greater incidence rates of mental health disorders among migrant populations. 20,22 The contradictory and equivocal findings of studies concerned with migrants' mental health make it relevant to analyze a broader range of available national data.…”

Relationship of postnatal depressive symptoms to infant temperament, maternal expectations, social support and other potential risk factors: findings from a large Australian cross-sectional study

“…A study of new mothers in Sweden found factors associated with poor self-rated health included tiredness, musculoskeletal problems, abdominal pain, emotional problems, depression, negative experiences of breast feeding, infant sleeping problems, prematurity and poor social support [39]. Postnatal depression has previously been found to be associated with poor self-rated health [40]. It is also possible that poor self-rated health is related to the feeling of “loss of control” and to birth-related trauma and stress.…”

Migration and Maternity: Insights of Context, Health Policy, and Research Evidence on Experiences and Outcomes From a Three Country Preliminary Study Across Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom

“…It seems likely that having unmet needs may contribute to the greater risk for migrants/minorities to develop postpartum depression (Mechakra-Tahiri, Zunzunegui, & Seguin, 2007;Stewart, Gagnon, Saucier, Wahoush, & Dougherty, 2008). Whereas self-rated health was strongly associated with depressive symptoms in Canadian-born mothers (OR 3.46, 95% CI 2.54-4.72), there was no significant associations for minority immigrant mothers, suggesting that factors other than perceived health may be influential on depressive symptoms or that health is being evaluated around physical concepts (Mechakra-Tahiri et al, 2007).…”