A comparative and exploratory analysis of socio-cultural factors and immigrant women's mental health within a Canadian context.
The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of macro-level factors on immigrant and non-immigrant women's mental health status in a Canadian context. This study was part of a larger study examining women's quality of life in south eastern Ontario. Using survey research methods, data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 91 women of whom 66 identified their country of origin as "other" than Canada. Descriptive, bivariate and regression analysis of this data revealed that immigrant and non-immigrant women's macro-level predictors of mental health status vary. Overall, for immigrant women's perceptions of neighbourhood social cohesion was a stronger predictor influencing mental health status, while for non-immigrant women social support was more influential. Research with larger, representative samples should explore the findings to ascertain generalizability.
Social Science and Humanities, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 55 Bond Street, Oshawa, ON, L1G 0A5, Canada. shahid.alvi@uoit.ca
Shahid
S
Alvi
Arshia
A
Zaidi
Nawal
N
Ammar
Lisa
L
Culbert
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011287:Prejudice; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D016387:Women's Health