Perceived discrimination and impaired mental health in Turkish immigrants and their descendents in Germany.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the relationship between different forms of perceived ethnic discrimination, stress, and depressive and somatoform symptoms in Turkish immigrants and their descendents. Moreover, it was tested whether ethnic identification buffers the effect of discrimination on stress.


METHODS
Variables were assessed via online and paper-pencil questionnaires (e.g., Behaviors from Intergroup Affect and Stereotype Treatment Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale) in Turkish immigrants and their descendents (N=214) from the general population in Germany. Mediation and moderated mediation models were tested.


RESULTS
Open aggression and discrimination in everyday situations showed large effects on depressive and somatoform symptoms. Also, paternalism showed a large indirect effect on impaired mental health via perceived stress, but only for persons lowly identified with being Turkish.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals the large detrimental effects of different forms of discrimination on mental health in Turkish immigrants. However, a high ethnic identification can act as a buffer against stress.
Department of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: mewesr@uni-marburg.de.
Ricarda
R
Mewes
Department of Psychology, Technical University Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
Frank
F
Asbrock
Department of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Johanna
J
Laskawi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010465:Perception; D065840:Protective Factors; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult