Mental health in Ecuadorian migrants from a population-based survey: the importance of social determinants and gender roles

To describe the prevalence of and the risk factors for poor mental health in female and male Ecuadorian migrants in Spain compared to Spaniards.

Population-based survey. Probabilistic sample was obtained from the council registries. Subjects were interviewed through home visits from September 2006 to January 2007. Possible psychiatric case (PPC) was measured as score of ≥5 on the General Health Questionnaire-28 and analyzed with logistic regression.

Of 1,122 subjects (50% Ecuadorians, and 50% women), PPC prevalence was higher in Ecuadorian (34%, 95% CI 29–40%) and Spanish women (24%, 95% CI 19–29%) compared to Ecuadorian (14%, 95% CI 10–18%) and Spanish men (12%, 95% CI 8–16%). Shared risk factors for PPC between Spanish and Ecuadorian women were: having children (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4–6.9), work dissatisfaction (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6–10.5), low salaries (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.9), no economic support (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.9–3.4), and no friends (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.2). There was an effect modification between the nationality and educational level, having a confidant, and atmosphere at work. Higher education was inversely associated with PPC in Spanish women, but having university studies doubled the odds of being a PPC in Ecuadorians. Shared risk factors for PPC in Ecuadorian and Spanish men were: bad atmosphere at work (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.4), no economic support (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3–9.5), no friends (OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.9–6.6), and low social support (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.9–2.9), with effect modification between nationality and partner’s emotional support.

Mental health in Spanish and Ecuadorian women living in Spain is poorer than men. Ecuadorian women are the most disadvantaged group in terms of prevalence of and risk factors for PPC.