Examining Mental Health Status and Mental Health Service Utilization by Visible Minority Immigrants in Canada: Adopting a Social Determinants of Health and Intersectionality Approach

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atmire.migration.oldid5079
dc.contributor.advisorShankar, Janki
dc.contributor.authorIp, Conita Kit Ching
dc.contributor.committeememberWalsh, Christine
dc.contributor.committeememberLee, Yeonjung
dc.date.accessioned2016-10-11T15:10:48Z
dc.date.available2016-10-11T15:10:48Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.date.submitted2016en
dc.description.abstractThe number of visible minority immigrants to Canada is increasing rapidly. However, studies on mental health experiences associated with migration-related challenges are limited. Drawing on social determinants of health and intersectionality frameworks, this study investigated the relationship between social contextual factors and mental health outcomes (self-perceived mental health and life stress, and diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders) and mental health service utilization among visible minority immigrant adults in Canada. Data were drawn from the 2009-2010 Canadian Community Health Survey, which provided a sample of 5,870 visible minority immigrant adults aged 18 to 64 from 13 Canadian provinces and territories and a comparison group of 68,932 Canadian-born white adults. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between socio-demographic factors and mental health outcomes and service use. Analysis results revealed no significant differences in self-perceived mental health between visible minority immigrant and Canadian-born white adults. Within-group multivariate logistic regression modeling revealed that male gender, employed status, mid- or high-range household income, and strong sense of community belonging were recurring protective factors against poor mental health, while longer-term immigrant status was a recurring risk factor for visible minority immigrants. Analysis of interactions between correlates revealed that when compared to all other intersecting immigrant and Canadian-born social identities, middle-aged visible minority immigrant adults and visible minority immigrant adults with a mid-range household income were the combined social identities associated with poor perceived mental health, high perceived life stress, and diagnosed mood disorders. Visible minority immigrants with poor perceived mental health and high perceived life stress were less likely than Canadian-born adults to report using mental health services, but those with diagnosed mood or anxiety disorders were as likely as Canadian-born adults to have used services. Despite some limitations, this study contributes to the current body of literature on ethno-cultural immigrant mental health by examining multiple mental health outcomes and help-seeking patterns using a social determinant of health perspective in the context of intersectionality, examining the combined effects of multiple social identities. The study results also challenge conventional assumptions about the “healthy immigrant effect” and “transitional effect” in visible minority immigrant’s mental health, contributing to a more complex understanding of this important issue.en_US
dc.identifier.citationIp, C. K. (2016). Examining Mental Health Status and Mental Health Service Utilization by Visible Minority Immigrants in Canada: Adopting a Social Determinants of Health and Intersectionality Approach (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26020en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/26020
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/3413
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.facultySocial Work
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectSocial Work
dc.subject.classificationImmigrantsen_US
dc.subject.classificationMental Healthen_US
dc.subject.classificationSocial Determinants of Healthen_US
dc.subject.classificationIntersectionalityen_US
dc.subject.classificationVisible Minorityen_US
dc.subject.classificationMental Health Service Utilizationen_US
dc.titleExamining Mental Health Status and Mental Health Service Utilization by Visible Minority Immigrants in Canada: Adopting a Social Determinants of Health and Intersectionality Approach
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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