title: Associations between stressful events and self-reported mental health problems among non-Western immigrants in Denmark.
abstract: The aim of the present paper is to investigate the relationships of stressful events with self-reported mental health problems in the general population, comparing non-western immigrants with Danish nationals. 11.500 individuals aged 18-64 years from eight ethnic groups were invited to participate in a bilingual telephone survey on health among ethnic minorities in Denmark in 2007. Overall response rate is 52.1%. 3.997 individuals were selected for the present study. Self-reported mental health problems is twice as high among immigrants from Ex-Yugoslavia (24.6%), Iraq (30.2%) Iran (20.5%), Lebanon (27.2%) and Pakistan (19.9%), as among Danish nationals (9.7%) χ(2) (7, n = 3.997) = 21.57, P > 0.00. Non-western immigrants report twelve out of thirteen types of stressful events more frequently compared to Danish nationals. The most frequently reported stressful event among non-western immigrants is 'personal disease'. Immigrants perceive the perils of daily life as more stressful in comparison with host nationals probably because of the additional challenges of adjusting to a new environment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark. jsinghammer@health.sdu.dk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singhammer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bancila
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000367:Age Factors; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D003469:Culture; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
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