The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44879

Samuel Noh, PhD, Sociology, University of Akron, 535 Polsky, Institue for Health & Social Policy, University of Akorn, Akron, OH 44325-1915, 416-535-8501 x4112, snoh@uakron.edu and Violet Kaspar, PhD, Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Centre for Addcition and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.

To date, immigrants have been thought to be at risk for mental distress due to uprooting and resettlement stress. But, studies of immigrant mental health in Canada and in the US demonstrate the contrary, despite the severity and chronicity of life strains associated with migration and resettlement. Equally perplexing, the research findings also demonstrate that, over years and generations, immigrants gradually give away their health advantage, and in some ethnic groups, second and third generation immigrants show clearly inferior health status compared to native-born population samples. In this presentation, we contend that research to date has concentrated on the identification of stressors without documenting gains in the lives of immigrants, and therefore, fails to consider the impact of potential gains and positive changes brought about by migration. The presentation will report survey data to show how an assessment profile of resettlement impact (RIP) is associated with depression and perceived health, and plays a role in accounting for vulnerability and resilience in visible minority immigrant and refugee groups (Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Korean, Iranian) and one referent group of non-visible immigrants (Irish) settled in Toronto, Canada (N=1,000). Participants in the session will (1) see that the incorporation of the RIP construct and its measurement into theoretical and analytic models will advance our ability to account for the paradox of healthy immigrants and gradual deterioration of their health over time and generations, and (2) learn about the RIP scale which can be used in research and services planning.

Learning Objectives:

To date, immigrants have been thought to be at risk for mental distress due to uprooting and resettlement stress. But, studies of immigrant mental health in Canada and in the US demonstrate the contrary, despite the severity and chronicity of life strains associated with migration and resettlement. Equally perplexing, the research findings also demonstrate that, over years and generations, immigrants gradually give away their health advantage, and in some ethnic groups, second and third generation immigrants show clearly inferior health status compared to native-born population samples. In this presentation, we contend that research to date has concentrated on the identification of stressors without documenting gains in the lives of immigrants, and therefore, fails to consider the impact of potential gains and positive changes brought about by migration. The presentation will report survey data to show how an assessment profile of resettlement impact (RIP) is associated with depression and perceived health, and plays a role in accounting for vulnerability and resilience in visible minority immigrant and refugee groups (Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Korean, Iranian) and one referent group of non-visible immigrants (Irish) settled in Toronto, Canada (N=1,000). Participants in the session will (
• see that the incorporation of the RIP construct and its measurement into theoretical and analytic models will advance our ability to account for the paradox of healthy immigrants and gradual deterioration of their health over time and generations, and (
• learn about the RIP scale which can be used in research and services planning.

Keywords: Immigration, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.