The condition of “tightness”: the somatic complaints of Turkish migrant women

Abstract

This article is based on intensive interviews made with 75 Turkish migrant women living in Denmark. The interviews were conducted in the women's own homes, in their own language, and special care was taken to establish an atmosphere of confidence. The methodological problems involved in this kind of research are discussed. The purpose of the study was to obtain information on the women's own evaluation of their physical, psychological and social conditions in the host country. Only 8% of the informants reported that they were in good health. The remaining had complaints of somatic character and considered themselves as being ill. There were no cases of severe psychopathology. The background of the women's illnesses is analysed at three levels: the physical, the psychosocial and the cultural levels respectively, in an attempt to elucidate their multifactorial etiology as well as to give a more comprehensive picture of the meaning of illness in a societal context.

Effects of internal displacement and resettlement on the mental health of Turkish children and adolescents

“…Our results were consistent with these studies and support the notion that somatization is indeed an important symptom of internalization problems in Turkish culture [9,22].…”

“…Previous studies conducted with adult Turkish immigrants indicated higher somatic complaints in these individuals [9,22]. Our results were consistent with these studies and support the notion that somatization is indeed an important symptom of internalization problems in Turkish culture [9,22].…”

Bioenergetic exercises in inpatient treatment of Turkish immigrants with chronic somatoform disorders: A randomized, controlled study

“…For instance, although the separation between physical and emotional experience occurs most precisely in Western European languages, emotional perceptions are figuratively expressed through allegories of body sensations in the Turkish language [13,14]. Body language is thus an important facet of Turkish communication [15] and, thus, becomes an essential aid for such patients. It functions to express subject matters that the patients can verbalize only with difficulty, or perhaps even not at all, such as childhood memories, sexuality, or aggression [16].…”

Understanding Workplace Adaptation as an Acculturation Process: A Qualitative Examination of South Korean Highly Skilled Workers in Japan

“…To date, most research in this area has focused on Western cultural contexts where there have been active migrations over the past decades (e.g., Mirdal, 1985;Weishaar, 2008Weishaar, , 2010. Moreover, it has been suggested that migrants' acculturation and their mental health affect their economic conditions and activities (Bhui et al, 2003;Moussaoui & Agoub, 2010); however, relatively few studies have focused on migrants' job stress, job adjustment and their mental health (Ahonen, Benavides, & Benach, 2007;de Castro, Gee, & Takeuchi, 2008).…”