Perceived ethnic discrimination, acculturation, and psychological distress in women of Turkish origin in Germany.
OBJECTIVE
Discrimination is linked to various health problems, including mental disorders like depression and also has a negative effect on the access to mental health care services. Little is known about factors mitigating the association between ethnic discrimination and mental distress.


METHODS
The present study examined the extent of the relationship between perceived ethnic discrimination and psychological distress among women of Turkish origin residing in Berlin, and explored whether this association is moderated by acculturation strategies while controlling for known predictors of distress in migrant populations.


RESULTS
A total of 205 women of Turkish origin participated in the study. 55.1% of the participants reported some degree of ethnic discrimination. The degree of reported discrimination varied according to acculturation. The highest level of ethnic discrimination was found in the second generation separated group and both generations of the marginalized group. Further, the results indicate an association between ethnic discrimination and distress while adjusting for known socio-demographic predictors of distress, migration-related factors, and neuroticism (B = 5.56, 95% CI 2.44-8.68, p < 0.001). However, the relationship did vary as a function of acculturation strategy, showing an association only in the separated group.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings highlight the effects of ethnic discrimination beyond the influence of known risk factor for psychological distress in migrants, such as unemployment, being single, having a limited residence permit or the presence of personality structures that may increase vulnerability for stress responses and mental disorders.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Mitte, University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. marion.aichberger@charite.de.
Marion C
MC
Aichberger
Psychiatric University Clinic at St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
Zohra
Z
Bromand
Psychiatric University Clinic at St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
Michael A
MA
Rapp
Psychiatric University Clinic at St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
Rahsan
R
Yesil
Psychiatric University Clinic at St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
Amanda Heredia
AH
Montesinos
Psychiatric University Clinic at St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
Selver
S
Temur-Erman
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Mitte, University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Andreas
A
Heinz
Psychiatric University Clinic at St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
Meryam
M
Schouler-Ocak
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001604:Berlin / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D063505:Racism / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
Acculturation; Ethnic discrimination; Migrant; Psychological distress; Turkish