title: The Negative Impact of an Uncertain Residence Status: Analysis of Migration-Related Stressors in Outpatients with Turkish Migration Background and Psychiatric Disorders in Germany Over a 10-Year Period (2005-2014).
abstract: Several studies indicate that immigration is associated with a higher risk for mental disorders, particularly in refugees and asylum seekers. We investigated migration-related distress in outpatients with Turkish migration background and a psychiatric disorder. Asylum applicants (ASA) and migrants with a permanent residency status (PRS) from a specialized German psychiatric outpatient service were compared with respect to clinical variables and stressors related to migration and acculturation. Of n = 620 migrant outpatients (main diagnosis: 3.9% ICD-10 F2, 58.2% F3, 36.5% F4, 1.5% F60), n = 78 (12.6%) were ASA with larger proportions of illiteracy and language difficulties. Communication problems, stress related to migration, shame feelings, homesickness and perceived discrimination occurred more often in ASA whereas family conflicts were more frequent in PRS (P < 0.05). According to our results, adaptation to the new environment of asylum applicants implies more difficulties, especially language problems, feelings of shame, and experience of discrimination. Asylum seeking seems to denote an additional severe psychological stressor.
authors.affiliation: Vitos Clinical Centre for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Giessen-Marburg, Licher Straße 106, 35394, Giessen, Germany. mjmueller@gmx.de.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany. mjmueller@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Matthias J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Vitos Clinical Centre for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Giessen-Marburg, Cappeler Str. 98, 35039, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.affiliation: Institute of European Ethnology and Cultural Studies, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.|Vitos Clinical Centre for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Giessen-Marburg, Cappeler Str. 98, 35039, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Eckhardt
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012752:Shame; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Asylum seeking; Migration; Psychiatry; Stressors; Turkish migration background