Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Food Related Challenges and Mental Health Among U.S. African Migrants: A Narrative Review

  • Review Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The United States’ (US) African immigrant (AI) population is growing, yet they are underrepresented in health and nutrition research. This population experiences difficulties finding culturally appropriate foods and navigating the US food environment (FE), is highly food insecure (FI), and vulnerable to mental disorders. This review examined the current evidence for AIs' food and mental health outcomes and connections; and identified gaps in the literature and future research opportunities. A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS. Twenty-one studies were identified, reporting high (37–85%) FI rates, poor diet quality, and increased risk of mental disorders among participants. Challenges in the FE, lack of transportation, limited access to ethnic foods, low SES, and language barriers were associated with FI and poor diet quality. Similarly, discrimination, substance use, and immigration status were associated with depression and anxiety. However, studies examining the connection between AI’s food experience and mental health are lacking. AIs are at a higher risk for FI, poor diet quality, and mental disorders. Ethnic-specific research to understand the connection between their food and mental health is needed to reduce nutrition and mental health disparities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. WHO. Special initiative for mental health (2019–2023). Accessed June 23, 2023. https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/special-initiative-for-mental-health-(2019-2023)

  2. GBD 2019 Mental Disorders Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Psychiatry. 2022;9(2):137–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00395-3

  3. About Mental Health. Published August 5, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm. Accessed 12 Oct 2021.

  4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001, NSDUH Series H-55). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/. Accessed June 23, 2023.

  5. Venters H, Adekugbe O, Massaquoi J, Nadeau C, Saul J, Gany F. Mental health concerns among African immigrants. J Immigr Minor Health. 2011;13(4):795–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-9357-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Derr AS. Mental Health Service Use Among Immigrants in the United States: A Systematic Review. Psychiatr Serv. 2016;67(3):265–74. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201500004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Venters H, Gany F. African Immigrant Health. J Immigr Minor Health. 2011;13(2):333–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-009-9243-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chang CD. Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities Among Immigrants and their Children. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2019;49(1):23–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2018.11.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Akinsulure-Smith AM. Resilience in the Face of Adversity: African Immigrants’ Mental Health Needs and the American Transition. J Immigr Refug Stud. 2017;15(4):428–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2016.1238989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gee GC, Ryan A, Laflamme DJ, Holt J. Self-reported discrimination and mental health status among African descendants, Mexican Americans, and other Latinos in the new hampshire REACH 2010 initiative: the added dimension of immigration. Am J Public Health. 2006;96(10):1821–8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2005.080085.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Saasa S, Miller S. Biopsychosocial predictors of depression and anxiety symptoms among first-generation black African immigrants. Soc Work. 2021;66(4):329–38. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swab038.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Saasa S, Okech D, Choi YJ, Nackerud L, Littleton T. Social exclusion, mental health, and social wellbeing among African immigrants in the United States. Int Soc Work. 2022;65(4):787–803. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872820963425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. McCann TV, Renzaho A, Mugavin J, Lubman DI. Stigma of mental illness and substance misuse in sub-Saharan African migrants: a qualitative study. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2018;27(3):956–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Chikanda A, Morris JS. Assessing the integration outcomes of African immigrants in the United States. Afr Geogr Rev. 2021;40(1):1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2020.1744455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Swinburn B, Vandevijvere S, Kraak V, et al. Monitoring and benchmarking government policies and actions to improve the healthiness of food environments: a proposed Government Healthy Food Environment Policy Index. Obes Rev. 2013;14:24–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12073.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. CDC. Healthy Food Environments. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 2 Feb 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/healthy-food-environments/index.html. Accessed 24 Oct 2021.

  17. Berggreen-Clausen A, Pha SH, Alvesson HM, Andersson A, Daivadanam M. Food environment interactions after migration: a scoping review on low- and middle-income country immigrants in high-income countries. Public Health Nutr. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980021003943.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Jones AD. Food insecurity and mental health status: a global analysis of 149 countries. Am J Prev Med. 2017;53(2):264–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.04.008.

    Article  PubMed  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pourmotabbed A, Moradi S, Babaei A, et al. Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(10):1778–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001900435X.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Nunnery DL, Dharod JM. Potential determinants of food security among refugees in the US: an examination of pre- and post-resettlement factors. Food Secur. 2017;9(1):163–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-016-0637-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Jacobus MV, Jalali R. Challenges to food access among Lewiston’s African immigrants. Maine Policy Rev. 2011;20(1):151–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Patil CL, Hadley C, Nahayo PD. Unpacking dietary acculturation among new Americans: results from formative research with African refugees. J Immigr Minor Health. 2009;11(5):342–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9120-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ngoubene-Atioky AJ, Case J, Tokplo L, Baur C. Migration trends and dietary patterns in Sub-Saharan African adult immigrants: a comparative analysis of populations in France, the UK, and the USA. Migr Stud. 2021;9(3):1116–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/migration/mnz038.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang Y, Min J, Harris K, Khuri J, Anderson LM. A systematic examination of food intake and adaptation to the food environment by refugees settled in the United States. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(6):1066–79. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.011452.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Akombi-Inyang B, Huda MdN, Schutte AE, et al. The association between post-migration nutrition and lifestyle transition and the risk of developing chronic diseases among sub-saharan African migrants: a mixed method systematic review protocol. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):4706. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094706.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kennedy S, Kidd MP, McDonald JT, Biddle N. The healthy immigrant effect: patterns and evidence from four countries. J Int Migr Integr. 2015;16(2):317–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-014-0340-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Antecol H, Bedard K. Unhealthy assimilation: why do immigrants converge to American health status levels? Demography. 2006;43(2):337–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Markides KS, Rote S. The healthy immigrant effect and aging in the United States and other western countries. Gerontologist. 2019;59(2):205–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny136.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Lu Y, Kaushal N, Denier N, Wang JSH. Health of newly arrived immigrants in Canada and the United States: Differential selection on health. Health Place. 2017;48:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2017.08.011.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Vang ZM, Sigouin J, Flenon A, Gagnon A. Are immigrants healthier than native-born Canadians? A systematic review of the healthy immigrant effect in Canada. Ethn Health. 2017;22(3):209–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2016.1246518.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Hamilton TG. The healthy immigrant (migrant) effect: In search of a better native-born comparison group. Soc Sci Res. 2015;54:353–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.08.008.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Markides KS, Rote S. Immigrant health paradox. In: Scott RA, Kosslyn SM, editors. Emerging trends in the social and behavioral sciences. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2015. p. 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Elshahat S, Moffat T, Newbold KB. Understanding the healthy immigrant effect in the context of mental health challenges: a systematic critical review. J Immigr Minor Health. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-021-01313-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Pumariega AJ, Rothe E, Pumariega JB. The mental health of immigrants and refugees. Community Ment Health J. 2005;41(5):581–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-005-6363-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Lee R. Does the healthy immigrant effect apply to mental health? Examining the effects of immigrant generation and racial and ethnic background among Australian adults. SSM Popul Health. 2019;7:011–011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2018.10.011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Salas-Wright CP, Vaughn MG, Goings TC, Miller DP, Schwartz SJ. Immigrants and mental disorders in the United States: new evidence on the healthy migrant hypothesis. Psychiatry Res. 2018;267:438–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.06.039.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Omenka OI, Watson DP, Hendrie HC. Understanding the healthcare experiences and needs of African immigrants in the United States: a scoping review. BMC Public Health. 2020;20:27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8127-9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Adekeye OA, Adesuyi BF, Takon JG. Barriers to healthcare among African immigrants in Georgia, USA. J Immigr Minor Health. 2018;20(1):188–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0549-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Refugees UNHC for UNHCR viewpoint: “Refugee” or “migrant”—which is right? UNHCR. https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2016/7/55df0e556/unhcr-viewpoint-refugee-migrant-right.html. Accessed 28 Nov 2021.

  40. Wamwayi MO, Cope V, Murray M. Service gaps related to culturally appropriate mental health care for African immigrants. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2019;28(5):1110–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12622.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Hearst MO, Yang J, Friedrichsen S, Lenk K, Caspi C, Laska MN. The availability of culturally preferred fruits, vegetables and whole grains in corner stores and non-traditional food stores. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):5030. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18095030.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Yi SS, Russo RG, Liu B, Kum S, Rummo P, Li Y. Characterising urban immigrants’ interactions with the food retail environment. Public Health Nutr. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020002682.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. McElrone M, Colby SE, Moret L, et al. Barriers and facilitators to food security among adult burundian and congolese refugee females resettled in the US. Ecol Food Nutr. 2019;58(3):247–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2019.1598981.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Nunnery DL, Haldeman LA, Morrison SD, Dharod JM. Food insecurity and budgeting among liberians in the US: how are they related to sociodemographic and pre-resettlement characteristics. J Immigr Minor Health. 2015;17(2):506–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-9993-y.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Anderson L, Hadzibegovic DS, Moseley JM, Sellen DW. Household food insecurity shows associations with food intake, social support utilization and dietary change among refugee adult caregivers resettled in the United States. Ecol Food Nutr. 2014;53(3):312–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2013.831762.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Dharod JM, Croom JE, Sady CG. Food insecurity: its relationship to dietary intake and body weight among somali refugee women in the United States. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2013;45(1):47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2012.03.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Dharod JM, Croom J, Sady CG, Morrell D. Dietary intake, food security, and acculturation among Somali refugees in the United States: results of a pilot study. J Immigr Refug Stud. 2011;9(1):82–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2011.547827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Hadley C, Patil CL, Nahayo D. Difficulty in the food environment and the experience of food insecurity among refugees resettled in the United States. Ecol Food Nutr. 2010;49(5):390–407. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2010.507440.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Hadley C, Zodhiates A, Sellen DW. Acculturation, economics and food insecurity among refugees resettled in the USA: a case study of West African refugees. Public Health Nutr. 2007;10(4):405–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980007222943.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Hadley C, Sellen D. Food security and child hunger among recently resettled Liberian refugees and asylum seekers: a pilot study. J Immigr Minor Health. 2006;8(4):369–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-006-9007-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Alasagheirin MH, Clark MK. Skeletal growth, body composition, and metabolic risk among North Sudanese immigrant children. Public Health Nurs Boston Mass. 2018;35(2):91–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Willis MS, Buck JS. From Sudan to Nebraska: dinka and nuer refugee diet dilemmas. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2007;39(5):273–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.10.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Okafor MTC, Carter-Pokras OD, Zhan M. Greater dietary acculturation (dietary change) is associated with poorer current self-rated health among African immigrant adults. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2014;46(4):226–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2013.11.015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Turk MT, Fapohunda A, Zoucha R. Using photovoice to explore Nigerian immigrants’ eating and physical activity in the United States. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2015;47(1):16–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Tiedje K, Wieland ML, Meiers SJ, et al. A focus group study of healthy eating knowledge, practices, and barriers among adult and adolescent immigrants and refugees in the United States. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11:63. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-11-63.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. Trofholz A, Tate A, Fulkerson JA, Hearst MO, Neumark-Sztainer D, Berge JM. Description of the home food environment in Black, White, Hmong, Latino, Native American, and Somali homes with 5–7-year-old children. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):882–93. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001800280X.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Agarwal S, Fertig AR, Trofholz AC, Tate AD, Robinson J, Berge JM. Exploring the associations between neighborhood food environment, household food insecurity, and child weight-related outcomes in socio-economically and racially/ethnically diverse families. Public Health Nutr. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980022002130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Willis SK, Simonsen SE, Hemmert RB, Baayd J, Digre KB, Zick CD. Food insecurity and the risk of obesity, depression, and self-rated health in women. Womens Health Rep New Rochelle N. 2020;1(1):308–17. https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2020.0049.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Bivoltsis A, Trapp G, Knuiman M, Hooper P, Ambrosini GL. Do changes in the local food environment within new residential developments influence the diets of residents? Longitudinal results from RESIDE. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(18):E6778. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Mansour R, Liamputtong P, Arora A. Prevalence, determinants, and effects of food insecurity among Middle Eastern and North African migrants and refugees in high-income countries: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(19):7262. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197262.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  61. FAO I. The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2020: transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets. Rome: FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO; 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Coleman-Jensen A, Rabbitt MP, Gregory CA, Singh A. Household food security in the United States in 2019. http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=99281. Accessed 16 Aug 2021.

  63. Myers CA. Food insecurity and psychological distress: a review of the recent literature. Curr Nutr Rep. 2020;9(2):107–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-020-00309-1.

    Article  MathSciNet  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Anderson L, Hadzibegovic DS, Moseley JM, Sellen DW. Household food insecurity shows associations with food intake, social support utilization, and dietary change among refugee adult caregivers resettled in the United States. Ecol Food Nutr. 2014;53(3):312–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2013.831762.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Kasper J, Gupta SK, Tran P, Cook JT, Meyers AF. Hunger in legal immigrants in California, Texas, and Illinois. Am J Public Health. 2000;90(10):1629–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Vu M, Raskind IG, Escoffery C, Srivanjarean Y, Jang HM, Berg CJ. insecurity among iFood immigrants and refugees of diverse origins living in metropolitan Atlanta: the roles of acculturation and social connectedness. Transl Behav Med. 2020;10(6):1330–41. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa035.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Flores HL, Amiri A. CE: addressing food insecurity in vulnerable populations. AJN Am J Nurs. 2019;119(1):38–45. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000552585.15471.a7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Peterman JN, Wilde PE, Silka L, Bermudez OI, Rogers BL. Food insecurity among cambodian refugee women two decades post resettlement. J Immigr Minor Health. 2013;15(2):372–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9704-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Sastre LR, Haldeman L. Food selection factors and perceived influence on household foods post-arrival to the US of newcomer immigrant and refugee adolescents. Ecol Food Nutr. 2021;60(3):394–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2021.1872023.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. O’Mara J, Waterlander W, Nicolaou M. Exploring the role of the food environment in dietary acculturation: a study amongst Moroccan immigrants in The Netherlands. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(7):3328. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073328.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Burns C. Effect of migration on food habits of Somali women living as refugees in Australia. Ecol Food Nutr. 2004;43(3):213–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670240490447541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Renzaho AMN, Burns C. Post-migration food habits of sub-Saharan African migrants in Victoria: A cross-sectional study. Nutr Diet. 2006;63(2):91–102. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-0080.2006.00055.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Owen L, Corfe B. The role of diet and nutrition on mental health and wellbeing. Proc Nutr Soc. 2017;76(4):425–6. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665117001057.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Mycek MK, Hardison-Moody A, Bloom JD, Bowen S, Elliott S. Learning to eat the “right” way: examining nutrition socialization from the perspective of immigrants and refugees. Food Cult Soc. 2020;23(1):46–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2019.1700681.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Escamilla S, Saasa S. Gendered Patterns in Depression and Anxiety among African Immigrants in the United States. J Evid-Based Soc Work 2640–8066. 2020;17(4):392–405. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2020.1748153.

  76. Fenta H, Hyman I, Noh S. Mental health service utilization by Ethiopian immigrants and refugees in Toronto. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2006;194(12):925–34. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nmd.0000249109.71776.58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Bhui K, Mohamud S, Warfa N, et al. Mental disorders among Somali refugees: Developing culturally appropriate measures and assessing socio-cultural risk factors. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2006;41(5):400–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0043-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Lau AS, Tsai W, Shih J, Liu LL, Hwang WC, Takeuchi DT. The immigrant paradox among Asian American women: Are disparities in the burden of depression and anxiety paradoxical or explicable? J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013;81(5):901–11. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Pampati S, Alattar Z, Cordoba E, Tariq M, Mendes de Leon C. Mental health outcomes among Arab refugees, immigrants, and US-born Arab Americans in Southeast Michigan: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1):379. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1948-8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  80. Norris AE, Aroian KJ, Nickerson DM. Premigration persecution, postmigration stressors and resources, and postmigration mental health: a study of severely traumatized US Arab immigrant women. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc. 2011;17(4):283–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390311408900.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  81. Potochnick SR, Perreira KM. Depression and anxiety among first-generation immigrant Latino youth: key correlates and implications for future research. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2010;198(7):470–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181e4ce24.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  82. McMahon EM, Corcoran P, Keeley H, et al. Mental health difficulties and suicidal behaviors among young migrants: Multicentre study of European adolescents. BJPsych Open. 2017;3(6):291–9. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjpo.bp.117.005322.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  83. John DA, de Castro AB, Martin DP, Duran B, Takeuchi DT. Does an immigrant health paradox exist among Asian Americans? Associations of nativity and occupational class with self-rated health and mental disorders. Soc Sci Med 1982. 2012;75(12):2085–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.01.035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  84. Whitley R, Wang J, Fleury MJ, Liu A, Caron J. Mental health status, health care utilisation, and service satisfaction among immigrants in montreal: an epidemiological comparison. Can J Psychiatry Rev Can Psychiatr. 2017;62(8):570–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743716677724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  85. Filion N, Fenelon A, Boudreaux M. Immigration, citizenship, and the mental health of adolescents. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(5):0196859. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196859.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Bhugra D, Gupta S, Bhui K, et al. WPA guidance on mental health and mental health care in migrants. World Psychiatry. 2011;10(1):2–10.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  87. Schouler-Ocak M, Kastrup M, Vaishnav M, Javed A. Mental health of migrants. Indian J Psychiatry. 2020;62(3):242–6. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_358_20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  88. Lincoln AK, Cardeli E, Sideridis G, et al. Discrimination, marginalization, belonging, and mental health among Somali immigrants in North America. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2021;91(2):280–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000524.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Ellis BH, MacDonald HZ, Lincoln AK, Cabral HJ. Mental health of Somali adolescent refugees: the role of trauma, stress, and perceived discrimination. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008;76(2):184–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.76.2.184.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Ellis BH, MacDonald HZ, Klunk-Gillis J, Lincoln A, Strunin L, Cabral HJ. Discrimination and mental health among Somali refugee adolescents: the role of acculturation and gender. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2010;80(4):564–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01061.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Saasa SK, Rai A, Malazarte N, Yirenya-Tawiah AE. Mental health service utilization among African immigrants in the United States. J Commun Psychol. 2021;49(6):2144–61. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  92. Adan RAH, van der Beek EM, Buitelaar JK, et al. Nutritional psychiatry: Towards improving mental health by what you eat. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol J Eur Coll Neuropsychopharmacol. 2019;29(12):1321–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.10.011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  93. Maynard M, Andrade L, Packull-McCormick S, Perlman CM, Leos-Toro C, Kirkpatrick SI. Food insecurity and mental health among females in high-income countries. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(7):E1424. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Maharaj V, Tomita A, Thela L, Mhlongo M, Burns J. Food insecurity and risk of depression among refugees and immigrants in South Africa. J Immigr Minor Health. 2017;19(3):631–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0370-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Lai S, Huang D, Bardhan I, Park M. Associations between food insecurity and depression among diverse Asian Americans. Asian Pac Isl Nurs J. 2020;5(4):188–98. https://doi.org/10.31372/20200504.1114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  96. Hromi-Fiedler A, Bermúdez-Millán A, Segura-Pérez S, Pérez-Escamilla R. Household food insecurity is associated with depressive symptoms among low-income pregnant Latinas. Matern Child Nutr. 2011;7(4):421–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2010.00266.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  97. Emerson SD, Carbert NS. An apple a day: protective associations between nutrition and the mental health of immigrants in Canada. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2019;54(5):567–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1616-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Anderson M. African immigrant population in the US steadily climbs. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/14/african-immigrant-population-in-u-s-steadily-climbs/. Accessed 5 Feb 2022.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Maryan A. Dualle, Lisa M. Robinette & Irene E. Hatsu

  2. College of Education and Human Ecology, Department of Human Sciences | Human Nutrition Program, 341 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Irene E. Hatsu

Authors
  1. Maryan A. Dualle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lisa M. Robinette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Irene E. Hatsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irene E. Hatsu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dualle, M.A., Robinette, L.M. & Hatsu, I.E. Food Related Challenges and Mental Health Among U.S. African Migrants: A Narrative Review. J Immigrant Minority Health 26, 371–384 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01512-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01512-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation