Families Growing Through Change: Dynamics in the Afrodiasporic Family

Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review

“…These stressors include struggles with changing family structure and dynamics, different cultural expectations, inadequate support systems (e.g., inability to access usual sources of support from extended family), and affirming practices of African migrants (e.g., actions or practices that validate their experiences and identities), which collectively affect their mental health and wellbeing [ 12 , 15 ]. In migrant men of African origin, risk of mental health challenges has been associated with strains associated with adjusting to new roles and responsibilities in the destination country [ 16 ]. Studies have also shown that migrant women of African origin usually display an elevated risk of internalizing difficulties (e.g., depression) compared to men and to women of non-migrant/non-African backgrounds [ 17 , 18 ] due to migration-related (e.g., navigating health care system new country) and acculturation strains [ 19 , 20 ] and the increased risk of intimate partner violence [ 21 ] experienced by these women [ 16 ].…”

“…In migrant men of African origin, risk of mental health challenges has been associated with strains associated with adjusting to new roles and responsibilities in the destination country [ 16 ]. Studies have also shown that migrant women of African origin usually display an elevated risk of internalizing difficulties (e.g., depression) compared to men and to women of non-migrant/non-African backgrounds [ 17 , 18 ] due to migration-related (e.g., navigating health care system new country) and acculturation strains [ 19 , 20 ] and the increased risk of intimate partner violence [ 21 ] experienced by these women [ 16 ].…”