Determinants of psychological distress among migrants from Ecuador and Romania in a Spanish city.
BACKGROUND
Migration may have consequences on the mental health of those who enter a new cultural environment. In Spain, migration has increased tenfold in 20 years. It is important to study how these migrants are interacting within this new context and which variables hinder their personal and social development.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze acculturation differences in Spain between first-generation immigrants from two different countries; to analyze the self-reported mental health of these participants; and to evaluate which variables best predict mental health disorders.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty five (135) respondents from Romania and Ecuador responded to a questionnaire analyzing mental health by means of the GHQ-12, coupled with other personal, social and psychosocial acculturation variables.


RESULTS
Both cultural groups differed significantly regarding the impact of personal and social variables on their well-being. Nevertheless, mental health distress was not explained by their cultural differences but by gender, gross income and perceived discrimination. Social support offered by those still living at home acted as a buffer.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to analyze female migration patterns in order to reduce mental health problems, stress the importance of economic income, and examine how social support offered by those living in one's home culture is an effective buffer against mental distress.
Department of Educational Science, University of Burgos, C/ Villadiego s/n, Burgos 09001, Spain. jlgoca@ubu.es
José Luis
JL
González-Castro
Silvia
S
Ubillos
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D004484:Ecuador / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*