Ethnic and gender differences in the association between discrimination and depressive symptoms among five immigrant groups
Abstract
This study examines ethnic and gender differences in exposure to discrimination and its association with depressive symptoms among five immigrant groups. Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 900 adult immigrants (50.8% men, 49.2% women) sampled from five ethnic immigrant communities in Toronto between April and September 2001. Men reported higher levels of discrimination than women. Ethiopians had the highest perception of discrimination followed by Korean, Iranian, Vietnamese, and Irish immigrants. With regard to discrimination-related depressive symptoms, Iranian and Korean men showed a greater risk than their Irish counterparts. Among women, Vietnamese and Irish seemed to be more vulnerable to discrimination than other ethnic groups. Despite experiencing the highest level of discrimination, Ethiopian men and women showed no association between discrimination and depressive symptoms. The exposure and psychological response to discrimination vary significantly across ethnicities and gender.
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Previous individual studies have found moderation by age, sex, education level and birthplace of study participants.
“Moderation by age, sex, education level and birthplace of study participants has been found in previous individual studies (e.g., [42, 414]) but has been inconclusive in previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses [e.g., [13]).”
From Racism as a Determinant of Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2015) · cites this paper as [414]
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- Authors
- Kim, I.-H., & Noh, S.
- Affiliations
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Kim, Il-Ho
- Venue
- Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Published
- 2013-12-29
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1167-1175
- ISSN
- 1557-1912 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1920
- OpenAlex
- W2050324976
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 9.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Gender, Health, and Social Inequality
- Keywords
- discrimination, depressive symptoms, immigrants, ethnic differences, gender differences, perceived discrimination, Ethiopian immigrants, Korean immigrants, Iranian immigrants, Vietnamese immigrants, Irish immigrants, immigrant mental health
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Ethiopia, Ethnicity, Female, Humans, Iran, Ireland, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario, Sex Factors, Vietnam, Emigrants and Immigrants, Young Adult, Republic of Korea, Racism
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