title: Assessing risk for depression among immigrants at two-year follow-up.
abstract: This article reports findings from a longitudinal study of what predicts depression 2 years later in a sample of former Soviet immigrants. Study aims were to: (1) investigate change in depression scores and (2) determine the relative contribution of initial depression scores, select demographic and migration characteristics and common demands of immigration to depression at 2-year follow-up. Data were collected at two time points from 468 former Soviet immigrants who had been in the US 5 years or less at the time of the first data collection appointment. Linear regression was used to predict depression at 2-year follow-up. There was little improvement in depression for the sample as a whole over time. Baseline depression, unemployment, novelty, and not having relatives in the local resettlement area were significant predictors of depression at 2-year follow-up. Initial depression in relatively recent immigrants should be treated aggressively and not assumed to be a transient problem. Immigrants should be assisted to find early employment and overcome novel aspects of their new environment. Immigrants without local families will likely need additional support.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Aroian
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology