Factors associated with psychological distress or common mental disorders in migrant populations across the world.
We systematically review factors associated with the presence of psychological distress or common mental disorders in migrant populations. Articles published between January 2000 and December 2014 were reviewed and 85 applying multivariate statistical analysis were selected. Common mental disorders were significantly associated with socio-demographic and psychological characteristics, as observed in large epidemiological studies on general populations. The probability of common mental disorders occurrence differs significantly among migrant groups according to their region of origin. Moreover, traumatic events prior to migration, forced, unplanned, poorly planned or illegal migration, low level of acculturation, living alone or separated from family in the host country, lack of social support, perceived discrimination, and the length of migrants' residence in the host country all increase the likelihood of CMD. In contrast, language proficiency, family reunification, and perceived social support reduce such probability. Factors related with the risk of psychiatric morbidity among migrants should be taken into account to design preventive strategies.
Grupo de Investigación CTS-549, Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España. Electronic address: djurado@ugr.es.
Dolores
D
Jurado
Departamento de Psiquiatría y Psicología, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, Estados Unidos; Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú.
Renato D
RD
Alarcón
Grupo de Investigación CTS-549, Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España.
José M
JM
Martínez-Ortega
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España.
Yaiza
Y
Mendieta-Marichal
Grupo de Investigación CTS-549, Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, España.
Luis
L
Gutiérrez-Rojas
Grupo de Investigación CTS-549, Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España.
Manuel
M
Gurpegui
D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*
Common mental disorders; Malestar psicológico; Mental health; Migrantes; Migrants; Migration process; Proceso migratorio; Psychological distress; Salud mental; Trastornos mentales comunes