BACKGROUND: Many immigrants face more economic strains and hardship than non-immigrants. Income inequality and an increasing social gap between immigrants and non-immigrants in Europe warrant further studies on the impact of socioeconomic factors on health in immigrant groups. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of socioeconomic status (SES) and emotional distress in women of Turkish descent and in women of German descent. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: A total of 405 women of German or Turkish descent residing in Berlin were interviewed. Emotional distress was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and SES was examined by level of education, employment status, and income. The associations of emotional distress and SES were estimated in multivariate linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Unemployment was associated with increased levels of emotional distress in all women, with the highest level of distress in the group of unemployed Turkish women. The overall SES level was related to a greater level of emotional distress in Turkish women, but not in German women (-3.2, 95%CI -5.9 - -.5; p=.020 vs. -.8, 95%CI -2.7 - 1.2; p=.431). Further stratified analyses by relationship status revealed that the association of SES and emotional distress only remained significant among single women. CONCLUSION: The impact of socioeconomic hardship appears to be complicated by social roles and expectations related to these. Further in-depth study of the complex nature of the interaction of social roles and socioeconomic position in female Turkish immigrants in Germany is needed to better understand differing risk patterns for emotional distress.
BACKGROUND: Many immigrants face more economic strains and hardship than non-immigrants. Income inequality and an increasing social gap between immigrants and non-immigrants in Europe warrant further studies on the impact of socioeconomic factors on health in immigrant groups. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of socioeconomic status (SES) and emotional distress in women of Turkish descent and in women of German descent. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: A total of 405 women of German or Turkish descent residing in Berlin were interviewed. Emotional distress was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and SES was examined by level of education, employment status, and income. The associations of emotional distress and SES were estimated in multivariate linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Unemployment was associated with increased levels of emotional distress in all women, with the highest level of distress in the group of unemployed Turkish women. The overall SES level was related to a greater level of emotional distress in Turkish women, but not in German women (-3.2, 95%CI -5.9 - -.5; p=.020 vs. -.8, 95%CI -2.7 - 1.2; p=.431). Further stratified analyses by relationship status revealed that the association of SES and emotional distress only remained significant among single women. CONCLUSION: The impact of socioeconomic hardship appears to be complicated by social roles and expectations related to these. Further in-depth study of the complex nature of the interaction of social roles and socioeconomic position in female Turkish immigrants in Germany is needed to better understand differing risk patterns for emotional distress.
Authors: Andreas Heinz; Daniel J Müller; Sören Krach; Maurice Cabanis; Ulrike P Kluge Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2014-11-04 Impact factor: 3.169
Authors: Luisa K Offenberg; Samira T Sommer; Manuela Schmidt; Stefanie Kasten; Florian Bockheim; Boris Gavrilov; Carmen Hunzelar; Nur Ikar; Maja P S Oberholz; Joana L Paños-Willuhn; Birgitta Weltermann Journal: BMC Prim Care Date: 2022-04-20
Authors: Andres R Schneeberger; Azizi Seixas; Nina Schweinfurth; Undine E Lang; Christian Cajochen; Donald A Bux; Shannique Richards; Girardin Jean-Louis; Christian G Huber Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-01-21 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Lilian Krist; Christina Dornquast; Thomas Reinhold; Heiko Becher; Karl-Heinz Jöckel; Börge Schmidt; Sara Schramm; Katja Icke; Ina Danquah; Stefan N Willich; Thomas Keil; Tilman Brand Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 3.390