Abstract
Background
Immigrants tend to initially settle in urban centres. It is known that immigrants have lower rates of depression than the Canadian-born population, with the lowest rates among those who have arrived recently in Canada. It is established that women and low-income individuals are more likely to have depression. Given that recent immigration is a protective factor and female gender and low income are risk factors, the aim of this study was to explore a recent immigration-low income interaction by gender.
Methods
The study used 2000–01 Canadian Community Health Survey data. The sample consisted of 41,147 adults living in census metropolitan areas. Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of the interaction on depression.
Results
The prevalence of depression in urban centres was 9.17% overall, 6.82% for men and 11.44% for women. The depression rate for recent immigrants was 5.24%, 3.87% for men and 6.64% for women. The depression rate among low-income individuals was 14.52%, 10.79% for men and 17.07% for women. The lowest-rate of depression was among low-income recent immigrant males (2.21%), whereas the highest rate was among low-income non-recent immigrant females (11.05%).
Conclusions
This study supports previous findings about the effects of income, immigration and gender on depression. The findings are novel in that they suggest a differential income effect for male and female recent immigrants. These findings have implications for public health planning, immigration and settlement services and policy development.
Résumé
Contexte
Les immigrants ont tendance à s’établir initialement dans les centres urbains. On sait que les immigrants présentent des taux de dépression inférieurs à ceux de la population née au Canada, et que les taux les plus faibles sont enregistrés chez les personnes récemment arrivées au Canada. Il est prouvé que les femmes et les personnes à faible revenu sont plus susceptibles d’être déprimées. Étant donné que l’immigration récente est un facteur de protection et que le sexe féminin et le faible revenu sont des facteurs de risque, nous avons voulu étudier l’interaction entre l’immigration récente et le faible revenu selon le sexe.
Méthode
L’étude faisait appel aux données de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes de 2000–2001. L’échantillon comprenait 41 147 adultes vivant dans les régions métropolitaines de recensement. Au moyen d’une analyse de régression logistique, nous avons examiné l’effet de l’interaction susmentionnée sur la dépression.
Résultats
La prévalence de la dépression dans les centres urbains était de 9,17 % globalement (6,82 % chez les hommes et 11,44 % chez les femmes). Le taux de dépression des immigrants récents était de 5,24 % (3,87 % chez les hommes et 6,64 % chez les femmes). Le taux de dépression chez les personnes à faible revenu était de 14,52 % (10,79 % chez les hommes et 17,07 % chez les femmes). Le plus faible taux de dépression était enregistré chez les immigrants récents à faible revenu de sexe masculin (2,21 %), tandis que le taux le plus élevé était enregistré chez les femmes à faible revenu qui n’étaient pas des immigrantes récentes (11,05 %).
Conclusion
Cette étude confirme les résultats antérieurs sur les effets du revenu, de l’immigration et du sexe sur la dépression. Par contre, elle donne à penser que l’effet du revenu est différent chez les hommes et chez les femmes immigrés de fraîche date. Ces constatations ont des conséquences pour la planification de la santé publique, les services d’immigration et d’établissement et l’élaboration des politiques.
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Acknowledgement of support: This project was funded by The Centre for Urban Health Initiatives and The Centre for Research on Inner City Health. The Centre for Research on Inner City Health is supported in part by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The research and analyses are based on data from Statistics Canada and the opinions expressed do not represent the views of Statistics Canada. The results and conclusions are those of the authors, and no official endorsement by the above organizations is intended or should be inferred.
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Smith, K.L.W., Matheson, F.I., Moineddin, R. et al. Gender, Income and Immigration Differences in Depression in Canadian Urban Centres. Can J Public Health 98, 149–153 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404328
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404328