Recent research on the mental health of immigrants to Sweden: a literature review

Gilliver, Stephen C.; Sundquist, Jan; Li, Xinjun; Sundquist, Kristina

doi:10.1093/eurpub/cku101

Cited by 109 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…A literature review concludes that mental health is poorer in foreign-born populations, with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, and that migrants from refugee countries had a higher prevalence of anxiety than native Swedes (Gilliver et al, 2014). These findings are in line with those of our study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Predictors of self-efficacy in women on long-term sick leave

Andersén

Larsson

Lytsy

et al. 2015

International Journal of Rehabilitation Research

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Self-efficacy has been shown to be related to sick leave and to be a predictor of return to work after sickness absence. The aim of this study was to investigate whether factors related to sick leave predict self-efficacy in women on long-term sick leave because of pain and/or mental illness. This cross-sectional study uses baseline data from 337 Swedish women with pain and/or mental illness. All included women took part in vocational rehabilitation. Data were collected through a sick leave register and a baseline questionnaire. General self-efficacy, sociodemographics, self-rated health, anxiety, depression, view of the future, and social support were measured and analyzed by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. The full multivariate linear regression model, which included mental health factors together with all measured factors, showed that anxiety and depression were the only predictive factors of lower self-efficacy (adjusted R2=0.46, P<0.001) and explained 46% of the variance in self-efficacy. The mean scores of general self-efficacy were low, especially in women born abroad, those with low motivation, those with uncertainties about returning to work, and women reporting distrust. Anxiety and depression are important factors to consider when targeting self-efficacy in vocational rehabilitation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Predictors of self-efficacy in women on long-term sick leave

Andersén

Larsson

Lytsy

et al. 2015

International Journal of Rehabilitation Research

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“…Previous European findings of higher incidence of tuberculosis among immigrants compared to native-born were also found in Denmark [51]. Consistent with European findings on mental health [52,53] as well as self-perceived health [54] the review also showed both poorer mental health and self-perceived health among immigrants compared to native-born. Self-reported health among immigrant children seem also to be comparable to Swedish findings [55].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Morbidity, Self-Perceived Health and Mortality Among non-Western Immigrants and Their Descendants in Denmark in a Life Phase Perspective

Jervelund

Malik

Ahlmark

et al. 2016

J Immigrant Minority Health

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To enable preventive policies to address health inequity across ethnic groups, this review overviews the current knowledge on morbidity, self-perceived health and mortality among non-Western immigrants and their descendants in Denmark. A systematic search in PUBMED, SCOPUS, Embase and Cochrane as well as in national databases was undertaken. The final number of publications included was 45. Adult immigrants had higher morbidity, but lower mortality compared to ethnic Danes. Immigrant children had higher mortality and morbidity compared to ethnic Danes. Immigrants' health is critical to reach the political goals of integration. Despite non-Western immigrants' higher morbidity than ethnic Danes, no national strategy targeting immigrants' health has been implemented. Future research should include elderly immigrants and children, preferably employing a life-course perspective to enhance understanding of parallel processes of societal adaptation and health.

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“…Although our findings do not support the ethnic density hypothesis, we note that every immigration experience is unique (e.g., social norms, cultural customs, and resources of the immigrant group; the migration and acculturation process, including experiences of discrimination; and the norms, customs, and economic status of the host nation), and thus it is not surprising that findings regarding the relationship between ethnic density and mental health are mixed. We also note that the immigrants in our sample had higher cumulative incidence of affective disorders but not non-affective psychosis relative to the native-born population; this is consistent with other research showing that the cumulative experience of pre-migration stressors, the migration experience itself, and exposure to stressors after arriving in the host country, including experiences of discrimination, are important determinants of stress-related psychopathology such as affective disorders for immigrants (Tinghög et al, 2007; Tinghög et al, 2010; Veling & Susser, 2011; Gilliver et al, 2014). …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Ethnic enclaves and risk of psychiatric disorders among first- and second-generation immigrants in Sweden

Mezuk

Cederin

et al. 2015

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

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Purpose Some non-Western immigrant groups in Europe have elevated risk of psychosis relative to native-born. It is hypothesized that neighborhood ethnic density moderates this risk. Immigration to Sweden has increased substantially recently, particularly from the Middle East. This study examined the relationship between neighborhood ethnic density (i.e., living in an immigrant enclave) and risk of psychotic and affective disorders among three groups: Iraqi immigrants, immigrants from other nations, and native-born Swedes. Methods Individuals aged 15 to 60, without prevalent psychopathology, were drawn from Swedish population-based registries and followed from 2005 to 2010 (N=1,442,931). Multi-level logistic regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood ethnic composition and incident psychopathology. Results Cumulative incidence of psychopathology was greater in Iraqi enclaves relative to predominantly Swedish neighborhoods (6.3% vs. 4.5%). Iraqis living in enclaves did not have significantly greater risk of psychosis (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.66, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.92 – 2.97) or affective disorders (OR: 1.04, 95%CI: 0.85 – 1.27) relative to those in predominantly Swedish neighborhoods. There was no increased risk of psychosis (OR: 0.93, p>0.05) or affective disorders (OR: 0.93, p>0.05) for other immigrants living in an enclave. Swedes living in an enclave had elevated risk of both psychosis (OR: 1.37, p<0.05) and affective disorders (OR: 1.14, p<0.05) relative to those in predominantly Swedish neighborhoods. Second-generation Iraqis had higher risk of psychotic but not affective disorders relative to first-generation. Conclusions Neighborhood ethnic density does not moderate risk of psychopathology for immigrants in Sweden. Findings regarding Swedes are consistent with social drift.

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Recent research on the mental health of immigrants to Sweden: a literature review

Cited by 109 publications

References 73 publications

Predictors of self-efficacy in women on long-term sick leave

Predictors of self-efficacy in women on long-term sick leave

Morbidity, Self-Perceived Health and Mortality Among non-Western Immigrants and Their Descendants in Denmark in a Life Phase Perspective

Ethnic enclaves and risk of psychiatric disorders among first- and second-generation immigrants in Sweden

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