Determinants of Psychological Distress Among Migrants From Ecuador and Romania in a Spanish City

Abstract

It is important to analyze female migration patterns in order to reduce mental health problems, stress the importance of economic income, and examine how social support offered by those living in one's home culture is an effective buffer against mental distress.

Epidemiology of Psychological Distress

“…The impacts of this ethnic stigmatisation include a loss of self-esteem and a lower access to the social resources that contribute to the health and psychological well-being of individuals, such as adequate housing, income and employment. Discrimination has been shown to be a risk factor for psychological distress in several studies (Gonzalez-Castro andUbillos 2011, Yip, Gee, andTakeuchi 2008). Findings from the study carried by Thapa and Hauff (Thapa and Hauff 2005) suggest that women and men may react differently to specific manifestations of discrimination: the mean level of distress was higher in men who were denied a job whereas it was higher in women who were denied housing.…”

“…The first hypothesis is that psychological distress may be partly attributable to gender-related personality traits or biological components, such as those found in depression and anxiety disorders (Parker and Hadzi-Pavlovic 2004). The second hypothesis is that, in most societies, women are more exposed or more vulnerable to the socio-cultural risk factors associated with psychological distress Mechanic 1983, Gove, Hughes, andStyle 1983). Attempts to verify this hypothesis have produced mixed findings.…”

Relationship between psychosocial stress and hypertension among Ghanaians in Amsterdam, the Netherlands – the GHAIA study

“…A number of studies have explored the prevalence of mental illness in different migrant groups. In many of these studies mental health problems including psychosocial stress are much more common among migrants than among non-migrants [16-18]. In the recently migrated SSA populations where many leave their native countries for the Western world due to political reasons and or economic hardships [17,19], psychosocial stress and other mental health problems can also be highly prevalent.…”

“…Furthermore, adapting to a new environment, difficulty finding a suitable job or earning a living abroad can be very challenging. This may result in psychological distress for many migrants, particularly those with undocumented status [16,17]. As a result, some African migrant groups associate hypertension with migration related stress.…”

The Relationship Between Social Support, HIV Serostatus, and Perceived Likelihood of Being HIV Positive Among Self-Settled Female, Foreign Migrants in Cape Town, South Africa

“…Cross-border migrants in varying contexts have an increased need for social support, as individuals experience high rates of psychological distress [19–21], as well as difficulties accessing social services in host countries [22]. However, traditional mechanisms for the receipt of support are often disrupted as individuals move from an established community to a foreign country [18, 23, 24].…”