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A Scoping Review of the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Mental Health Among Immigrants in Western Countries: An Integrated Bio-Psycho-Socio-Cultural Lens

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Abstract

Epidemiological evidence suggests that regular physical activity (PA) positively impacts individuals’ mental health (MH). The PA-MH relationship may be critical among immigrants owing to psycho-social-cultural influences. This scoping review of 61 studies employed a holistic bio-psycho-socio-cultural framework to thoroughly investigate the complex relationship between PA (across life domains) and immigrants’ MH in Western countries. A systematic search of five electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Anthropology Plus) was conducted to locate relevant articles. No limitations were applied to study design, age, gender, home country, MH condition or PA type. A bio-psycho-socio-cultural-informed conceptual model guided the analysis of the multi-domain PA-MH relationship. Immigrant PA-MH studies were conducted and reported most commonly in the USA (38%), Australia (18%), and Canada (11%). Overall, PA was positively related to MH. Each domain-specific PA appeared to be associated with unique MH-promoting pathways/mechanisms. Leisure-related PA may support MH by enhancing self-agency and minimizing risky behaviors, whilst travel- and domestic-related PA may promote self-accomplishment and physical engagement. Ethnic sports appeared to enhance resilience. Occupational-related PA was associated with either positive or negative MH, depending on the type of occupation. A bio-psycho-socio-cultural-informed model is required to gain an encompassing and integrated understanding of immigrants’ health. The first iteration of such a model is presented here, along with an illustration of how the model may be used to deepen analysis and understanding of the multi-domain PA-MH relationship among immigrants and inform public health planners and practitioners.

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Funding

This review did not receive grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University, Chester New Hall, Hamilton, ON, Ontario, L8S 4L9, Canada

    Sarah Elshahat & Tina Moffat

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Mahira Morshed, Keon Madani, Aya Mohamed & Naya Nadeem

  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Haneen Alkhawaldeh

  4. School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Keon Madani

  5. Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Sara Emira

  6. School of Earth, Environment & Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    K. Bruce Newbold

  7. Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Block B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK

    Michael Donnelly

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  1. Sarah Elshahat
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  8. Sara Emira
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Contributions

S.E. designed the study, conducted the search, curated, and analyzed the data as well as wrote the original draft. T.M., K.B.N., and M.D. contributed to the study design/conceptualization, and critical revision and editing. M.M., H.A., K.M., A.M., N.N., and S.E. contributed to the interpretation of data, reviewing, and editing of the manuscript. All authors have read, reviewed, and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sarah Elshahat.

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Elshahat, S., Moffat, T., Morshed, M. et al. A Scoping Review of the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Mental Health Among Immigrants in Western Countries: An Integrated Bio-Psycho-Socio-Cultural Lens. J Immigrant Minority Health 25, 1137–1151 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01518-w

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