Impact of Sociodemographic and Diabetes-Related Factors on the Presence and Severity of Depression in Immigrant Chinese Australian People With Diabetes

Abstract

In BriefThe coexistence of depression with diabetes significantly increases the likelihood of developing complications. This study aimed to describe the presence and severity of depression in immigrant Chinese Australian people with diabetes and explore its relationship to sociodemographic and diabetes-related factors. This study found that approximately one-fifth of immigrant Chinese Australian people with diabetes had symptoms consistent with moderate to severe depression and that individuals who are socially isolated and have more complex treatment and complications of diabetes are particularly at risk.

Health literacy in selected populations: Individuals, families, and communities from the international and cultural perspective

“…Research suggests that immigrants coming from a more traditional, low-technology lifestyle adjusting to a Western culture, suffer from higher rates of chronic conditions and morbidity than previously experienced, and more prevalent even than the non-immigrant populations. Diabetes and depression are examples of the latter conditions [38]. This situation can be a source of misunderstanding between well-intentioned physicians and patients, fueling distrust, and resulting in mutual disappointment and eventually health disparities.…”

“…The health service professional often has never had specific training nor has been provided with tools to tackle the abovementioned issues, that are as basic as understanding health data with regard to ethnicity [22,38]. In particular, very few academic curricula include training future providers about migrant health decline.…”

Depression, diabetes and immigration status: a retrospective cohort study using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

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creening for diabetes and depression is recommended in recently arrived immigrants. 1 In addition, given some evidence for a bidirectional association between diabetes and depression in the general population, 2-5 ongoing surveillance for diabetes may be relevant in the context of depression and, likewise, ongoing surveillance for depression may be justified with people with diabetes, particularly among immigrants.Immigrants may be particularly vulnerable to the development of diabetes and depression [6][7][8][9] owing to factors associated with resettlement, such as acculturation, stress and social and economic challenges. 5,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] For example, studies have reported that immigrants from South Asian countries are generally healthy upon arrival but rapidly develop diabetes after immigration.

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“…18,19 Studies have also reported that immigrants with diabetes are at higher risk of depression than the general host population 6,7 and the population in their country of origin. 12,[20][21][22][23][24][25] Conversely, immigrants with depression may also be at high risk of diabetes because of complex social determinants of health 1,18,19,26 and delayed diagnosis of and treatment for diabetes; 27-31 use of antidepressants may also increase diabetes risk. 32,33…”

“…Immigrants may be particularly vulnerable to the development of diabetes and depression [6][7][8][9] owing to factors associated with resettlement, such as acculturation, stress and social and economic challenges. 5,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] For example, studies have reported that immigrants from South Asian countries are generally healthy upon arrival but rapidly develop diabetes after immigration.…”