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Immigrating to Canada During Early Childhood Associated with Increased Risk for Mood Disorders

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Abstract

This study explored the impact of age at time of immigration on mental health in Canada. The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2011 was analyzed to determine prevalence rates for mood disorders for those who immigrated during early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out on pooled CCHS 2007–2011 data to calculate risk of mood disorders. Those who immigrated during early childhood (before the age of six) had a significantly higher prevalence rate of mood disorders (6.83 %, 95 % CI 6.77–6.89) compared to those who immigrated later in life (4.83–4.88 %, 95 % CI 4.56–4.93). Immigrating during early childhood was also associated with elevated risk of mood disorders (OR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.04–1.88) compared to those who immigrated as adults after adjusting for key factors. Mental health services need to consider the factors associated with early childhood migration and the implications for early intervention programming.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my doctoral supervisor Dr. Hala Tamim and co-supervisor Dr. Nazilla Khanlou for their support, Dr. Michaela Hynie for sparking the interest, as well as, Dr. Peter Kitchen, Dr. James Chowhan, and Melissa Moyser at the Statistics Canada Research Data Centre for their statistical support and expertise. This work was supported by funding from York University’s La Barge Graduate Scholarship in Multiculturalism and the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research Award.

Conflict of interest

The corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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  1. School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Farah Islam

  2. Social Aetiology of Mental Illness (SAMI), Health Systems and Health Equity Research Group, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada

    Farah Islam

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Correspondence to Farah Islam.

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Islam, F. Immigrating to Canada During Early Childhood Associated with Increased Risk for Mood Disorders. Community Ment Health J 51, 723–732 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9851-y

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