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A Comparative and Exploratory Analysis of Socio-cultural Factors and Immigrant Women’s Mental Health within a Canadian Context

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of macro-level factors on immigrant and non-immigrant women’s mental health status in a Canadian context. This study was part of a larger study examining women’s quality of life in south eastern Ontario. Using survey research methods, data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 91 women of whom 66 identified their country of origin as “other” than Canada. Descriptive, bivariate and regression analysis of this data revealed that immigrant and non-immigrant women’s macro-level predictors of mental health status vary. Overall, for immigrant women’s perceptions of neighbourhood social cohesion was a stronger predictor influencing mental health status, while for non-immigrant women social support was more influential. Research with larger, representative samples should explore the findings to ascertain generalizability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Science and Humanities, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 55 Bond Street, Oshawa, ON, L1G 0A5, Canada

    Shahid Alvi, Arshia Zaidi, Nawal Ammar & Lisa Culbert

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  1. Shahid Alvi
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  2. Arshia Zaidi
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  3. Nawal Ammar
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  4. Lisa Culbert
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Correspondence to Shahid Alvi.

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Alvi, S., Zaidi, A., Ammar, N. et al. A Comparative and Exploratory Analysis of Socio-cultural Factors and Immigrant Women’s Mental Health within a Canadian Context. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 420–432 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9567-1

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