The relationship between immigration and depression in South Africa: Evidence from the first South African National Income Dynamics Study

Type Journal Article - Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Title The relationship between immigration and depression in South Africa: Evidence from the first South African National Income Dynamics Study
Author(s)
Volume 16
Issue 6
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2014
Page numbers 1062-1068
URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-9987-9
Abstract
Few studies have examined depression among immigrants in post-apartheid South Africa, and factors that strengthen the relationship between immigration and depression. The first wave of the National Income Dynamics Study was used to investigate links between immigration and depression (n = 15,205). Depression symptoms were assessed using a 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Immigrants in South Africa had fewer depressive symptoms (CES-D = 10) than locally-born participants (17.1 vs. 32.4 %, F = 13.5, p < 0.01). Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analyses found that among immigrant populations, younger age (adjusted OR 1.03, 95 % CI 1.01–1.05) and black African ethnicity (adjusted OR 3.72, 95 % CI 1.29–10.7) were associated with higher depression. Younger age was associated with lower depression among locally-born study participants (adjusted OR 0.98, 95 % CI 0.97–0.98). The varying relationship between certain demographic factors, depression and the different mental health challenges among these groups requires closer attention.

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