[Relationship between mental distress and acculturation among migrants].
OBJECTIVE
Several studies have described a correlation between acculturation difficulties and mental distress, even mental disorders. The stress related to the process of acculturation can lead to mental disorders such as depression by way of a change in the activity of the HPA-axis.


METHODS
This correlation was examined in different samples of a total of 402 migrants.


RESULTS
A significant correlation between mental distress and acculturation stress was found in all samples, yet no significant relationship between acculturation stress and length of residency in Germany.


CONCLUSIONS
This non-representative, hypothesis generating study has to be replicated for samples of patients as well as other migrant groups not in treatment. A neurobiologically based specification of the definition of acculturation stress could be of relevant importance for prevention and clinical work.
Haasen
Christian
C
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg. haasen@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Levit
Olga
O
Gelbert
Anna
A
Foroutan
Noushin
N
Norovjav
Amra
A
Sinaa
Mirweys
M
Demiralay
Cüneyt
C
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology