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S20 Z. Bromand et al. / European Psychiatry 27 (2012) / supplement n°2 / S17-S21<br />

Table 1<br />

Socio- demographic characteristics <strong>of</strong> the respondents.<br />

Characteristic Total sample n (%)<br />

Age (years)<br />

(mean ± SD) 36 (9.1)<br />

Birthplace<br />

Germany<br />

Turkey<br />

Other<br />

4. Discussion<br />

33 (32.4)<br />

68 (66.7)<br />

1 (1)<br />

Length <strong>of</strong> stay in Germany<br />

Years (mean ± SD) 22.6 (11.4)<br />

Marital status<br />

Single<br />

Married<br />

Separate/Divorced<br />

Widow<br />

Others<br />

Migration background<br />

Family reunion/Marriage<br />

Political reasons<br />

Economic reasons<br />

Study<br />

Others<br />

24 (23.5)<br />

56 (54.9)<br />

18 (17.6)<br />

1 (1)<br />

3 (2.9)<br />

53 (78.0)<br />

2 (2.9)<br />

8 (11.8)<br />

4 (5.9)<br />

1 (1.5)<br />

Education (years)<br />

(mean ± SD)<br />

Employment status<br />

9.84 (3.9)<br />

Employed (Full time)<br />

26 (26.0)<br />

Employed (Part time)<br />

27 (27.0)<br />

Unemployed<br />

12 (12.0)<br />

Student<br />

14 (14.0)<br />

Housewife<br />

9 (8.6)<br />

Others<br />

Per capita net income<br />

12 (12)<br />

0- 900 €<br />

23 (30.7)<br />

1000- 1900 €<br />

31 (41.3)<br />

2000- 2900 €<br />

18 (24.0)<br />

More than 3000 €<br />

3 (4.0)<br />

Persons living at the house<br />

(mean ± SD) 3.2 (1.5)<br />

Consistent with previous studies on non- migrant populations,<br />

we found a negative correlation between hypothesized<br />

protective factors (extraversion, social support, and selfeffi<br />

cacy) and mental distress [3,35]. Fulmer et al. [19] postulated<br />

that when a person’s personality is congruent with the majority<br />

culture (person- culture match hypothesis), it has a positive<br />

effect on the self- esteem and subjective well- being. These<br />

individuals may be more likely to have positive experiences<br />

leading to a higher level <strong>of</strong> self- effi cacy and better psychological<br />

wellbeing.<br />

Furthermore, Schimmack et al. (2002) found that extraversion<br />

and neuroticism were significant predictors <strong>of</strong> life<br />

satisfaction rather in individualistic cultures than in collectivistic<br />

cultures [40]. There<strong>for</strong>e, individuals with extroverted<br />

personalities might be more satisfi ed in individualistic cultures<br />

like Germany [42] and have a better mental health status than<br />

introverted individuals.<br />

Neuroticism, as well as social strain, represented risk factors<br />

<strong>for</strong> mental health, and both were related to self- effi cacy, suggesting<br />

that the ability to master new environments is strongly<br />

dependent on both personality traits and perceived social context<br />

stressors. Different non- migrant studies have shown a high<br />

association between neuroticism and mental distress [10,33].<br />

It has been suggested that social support has a buffering effect<br />

on mental health even after a critical event [3]. Although the<br />

relationship between social support and mental health was only<br />

marginally signifi cant, social support was positively associated<br />

with extraversion, suggesting that extroverts among Turkish<br />

migrants may have better skills in recruiting social support.<br />

Limitations <strong>of</strong> our study are the lack <strong>of</strong> a representative sample,<br />

which may bias our results. However, representative sampling<br />

<strong>of</strong> women <strong>of</strong> Turkish origin in Germany has been proven to be very<br />

diffi cult, with response rates below 5% in several surveys [2]. In<br />

these surveys, an applied convenience sample using a snowballing<br />

approach yielded one <strong>of</strong> the largest samples <strong>of</strong> this population. A<br />

further limitation in our study is that we did not assess the effect<br />

<strong>of</strong> relevant factors, such as socioeconomic status or voluntary<br />

decision <strong>of</strong> migration on mental health, resilience or risk factors.<br />

Additionally, a cross- sectional study cannot imply causality.<br />

There<strong>for</strong>e, the specifi c role <strong>of</strong> resilience and risk factors should<br />

be examined in future longitudinal studies.<br />

5. Conclusion<br />

Migration represents a major challenge but it does not<br />

always lead to mental distress. Protective factors such as social<br />

support and self- effi cacy seem to have a buffering effect in the<br />

process <strong>of</strong> migration. However, neuroticism and social strain<br />

seem to be positively associated with mental distress. Further<br />

research is needed on how to best provide and increase social<br />

support and self- effi cacy among Turkish migrants.<br />

Acknowledgements<br />

<strong>Pro<strong>of</strong>s</strong><br />

The study was funded by the German federal ministry <strong>of</strong><br />

education and research (BMBF 01 EL0807).<br />

Confl ict <strong>of</strong> interest statement<br />

None.<br />

Authors contributions<br />

Equal contributors.<br />

References<br />

[1] Agha F. Lebensentwürfe im Exil: Biographische Verarbeitung der<br />

Fluchtmigration iranischer Frauen in Deutlschland. Frankfurt Main:<br />

Campus; 1998.<br />

[2] Aichberger, MC, Yesil, R, Rapp, MA, Schlattmann, P, Temur- Erman, S,<br />

Bromand, Z, et al. Surveying migrant populations – methodological considerations:<br />

An example from Germany. Int.Journal <strong>of</strong> Culture and Mental<br />

Health . 2011. Ref Type: In Press<br />

[3] Alvarez J, Hunt M. Risk and resilience in canine search and rescue handlers<br />

after 9/11. Journal <strong>of</strong> Traumatic Stress 2005;18:497- 505.<br />

[4] Ayub M, Irafan M, Nasr T, Lutufulah M, Kingdon D, Naeem F. Psychiatric<br />

morbidity and domestic violence: a survey <strong>of</strong> married women in Lahore.<br />

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2009;44:953- 60.<br />

[5] Bandura A. Self- effi cacy: Toward a unifying theory <strong>of</strong> behavioral change.<br />

Psychological Review 1977;84:191- 215.

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