The effects of gender and migrant status on physical and psychological well-being.
Adolescents (n = 962; 55% migrant and 45% native) between the age of 11 and 19 were administered the Kovac's Children Depression Inventory (CDI), Children Trait Anxiety Inventory (CTAI), Offer's Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ), and Brähler's Checklist of Symptom Complaints (GBB). Foreign-born and German-born samples were matched for age, gender, and educational status. Females were more anxious and complained more about physical ailments, particularly tiredness, stomach disorders, colds, and circulatory ailments than males, but not for depression. Adolescent migrants did not display any significant differences in terms of physical health, but they did report more depression and anxiety measures. The association between anxiety, depression, and physical ill-health was significant for both males and females, but tended to be more pronounced for females. There was scarce evidence of gender making an impact on the migration-health linkage. The implications of the results are discussed within the framework of migration and health policies for second generation children and their families.
Kirkcaldy
Bruce D
BD
International Centre for the Study of Occupational and Mental Health, Düsseldorf Germany. brucedavidkirkcaldy@yahoo.de
Furnham
Adrian F
AF
Siefen
Rainer G
RG
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D055815:Young Adult