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Acculturation and Depressive Symptoms among Turkish Immigrants in Germany

Author

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  • Eva Morawa

    (Department of Psychosomatic and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Yesim Erim

    (Department of Psychosomatic and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

Abstract

The present study explores the impact of acculturation on depressive symptoms among Turkish immigrants in Germany, taking into account different dimensions of cultural orientation. A total of 471 patients from two selected samples (254 primary care patients and 217 outpatients of a psychosomatic department) participated. Levels of acculturation were measured as orientation towards culture of origin (CO), and orientation towards the host culture (HC). Acculturation strategies (integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization) were also assessed as well as their association with depressive symptoms (BDI). Furthermore, gender- and migration-related differences in terms of acculturation and levels of depressive symptomatology were analyzed. Integration was the acculturation strategy associated with the lowest level of depressive symptoms (M = 14.6, SD = 11.9), while marginalization was associated with the highest (M = 23.5, SD = 14.7). Gender was not found to have a significant impact on acculturation but influenced depressive symptoms, with women (M = 21.8, SD = 13.3) reporting higher levels of depressive symptomatology than men (M = 15.1, SD = 14.0; p < 0.001). In first generation immigrants, significantly higher CO (M = 46.6, SD = 8.3; p < 0.001), lower HC (M = 31.0, SD = 9.6; p < 0.001), and higher levels of depressive symptoms (M = 20.2, SD = 14.1; p < 0.001) were found in comparison to second generation immigrants (CO: M = 41.3, SD = 7.4; HC: M = 36.2, SD = 8.8; depressive symptoms: M = 14.0, SD = 12.9). Our results suggest that orientation towards both the heritage and the host culture has a positive effect on the mental health status of immigrants. Future research needs to include representative samples of migrants from different cultures to further explore the association between acculturation and mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Morawa & Yesim Erim, 2014. "Acculturation and Depressive Symptoms among Turkish Immigrants in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:9:p:9503-9521:d:40219
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Keren Ladin & Steffen Reinhold, 2013. "Mental Health of Aging Immigrants and Native-Born Men Across 11 European Countries," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 68(2), pages 298-309.
    2. Thomson, Maria D. & Hoffman-Goetz, Laurie, 2009. "Defining and measuring acculturation: A systematic review of public health studies with Hispanic populations in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 983-991, October.
    3. Thijs Fassaert & Matty A.S. De Wit & Wilco C. Tuinebreijer & Jeroen W. Knipscheer & Arnoud P. Verhoeff & Aartjan T.F. Beekman & Jack Dekker, 2011. "Acculturation and Psychological Distress Among Non-Western Muslim Migrants - a Population-Based Survey," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(2), pages 132-143, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kristen Jakstis & Leonie K. Fischer, 2021. "Urban Nature and Public Health: How Nature Exposure and Sociocultural Background Relate to Depression Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Katja Thein & Yesim Erim & Eva Morawa, 2020. "Comparison of Illness Concepts and Coping Strategies among Cancer Patients of Turkish and German Origin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-17, August.
    3. 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, 2021. "Association of Acculturation Status with Longitudinal Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life—Results from a Cohort Study of Adults with Turkish Origin in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Ümran Sema Seven & Mendy Stoll & Dennis Dubbert & Christian Kohls & Petra Werner & Elke Kalbe, 2020. "Perception, Attitudes, and Experiences Regarding Mental Health Problems and Web Based Mental Health Information Amongst Young People with and without Migration Background in Germany. A Qualitative Stu," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-24, December.

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