The relationship between acculturation factors and symptoms of depression: A cross-sectional study with immigrants living in Athens

Abstract

The process of acculturation observed in immigrants is part of an adjustment to the values and norms of a new society, and possibly the loss of norms of the society of origin. Acculturation has been linked to stress-related psychological disorders such as depression. The present study investigates the relationship between three acculturation domains (everyday life behaviors, wishful orientation/nostos, and ethnic identity) and symptoms of depression in a sample of foreign immigrants living in Athens, Greece. The sample consisted of 317 immigrants who visited two non-governmental organization polyclinics. All participants were interviewed using the Immigrant Acculturation Scale (IAS) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The results showed that 133 (42%) out of the 317 interviewees were in a depressive state (CES-D > 15). The main finding was that high CES-D scores were related to low scores in the IAS Everyday Life and Wishful Orientation factors, while no relationship was found between depressive symptomatology and the IAS Identity factor. Short duration of stay in Greece, lack of steady job, and lack of residence permit were also related to high CES-D scores. In conclusion, adaptation to mainstream culture daily behaviors as well as the wish to integrate with individuals from the mainstream culture and settle permanently in the new country could be seen as part of an adaptive mechanism that protects the individual from experiencing depressive symptomatology.

Depression and anxiety among migrants in Austria: A population based study of prevalence and utilization of health care services

“…Tinghog et al (2007) and Missinne and Bracke (2012) demonstrated that the prevalence of mental illnesses among migrants in different European countries depends on their socio-economic situation. Studies about the effect of length of stay in the host country are inconsistent (Gonidakis et al, 2011;Breslau and Chang, 2006). Further, the rate of dysphoric disorders differs between migrants with different ethnic background within the same host country (De Wit et al, 2008;Levecque et al, 2007;Weich et al, 2004).…”

Stress, Illness, and the Social Environment: Depressive Symptoms Among First Generation Mandarin Speaking Chinese in Greater Los Angeles

“…First, acculturative stress was described as the divergence a racial/ethnic minority person experiences when exposed to a dissimilar culture (35). Such as acculturative stress is linked to mental disorders, especially depression (36). …”

The role of acculturation attitudes and social support in anxiety and depression of Indian immigrants in Greece

“…anxiety, depression). Gonidakis et al 4 found that more assimilation strategies are related to lower levels of depression in the Attica region. Furthermore, as mentioned before, according to Prapas and Mavreas, 5 less assimilated immigrants in Attica experience more cultural dissonance and conflict with host culture, especially in societies with assimilation pressures toward immigrants.…”

“…In recent decades, Greece has become one of the "recipient" countries of immigrants from the Balkans and several Asian countries. 1 Even though most findings suggest that immigrants in Greece prefer integration or assimilation over separation [2][3][4] which are related to lower levels of depression, the role of the acculturation attitudes of Indian immigrants in Greece and the social support they receive in anxiety and depression feelings has never been studied before. Less assimilated immigrants seem to experience in Attica more cultural dissonance and conflict with host culture, 5 but a crucial question remains: if it is feasible and adaptive for immigrants with many cultural differences from Greeks to become assimilated.…”

“…23 Integration might also be adaptive for immigrants with distinct cultural values, as far as it enables the maintenance of fundamental cultural traits and emotional investment in both co-nationals and hosts, 24,25 ending, in turn, in less anxiety and depression symptoms. 4 Assimilation, on the other hand, alters cultural identity 24 and may endanger in-group relationships, 25 increasing conflicts with family, as immigrant cultural values and social be-tinct psychological indices. Moreover, immigrants' social support is a protecting factor in the relationship between acculturation attitudes to anxiety and depression.…”