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Age differences in stress process of recent immigrants.
Michael Ritsner1, Alexander Ponizovsky
1Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Hadera, Israel.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|March 27, 2003
Summary
Age impacts psychological distress in immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU). Older immigrants face more health stressors, while distress predictors vary significantly by age group, with only middle-aged individuals showing improvement over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Immigration significantly impacts mental health.
- Understanding age-specific stressors is crucial for immigrant well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how age influences the relationship between stress, social support, and psychological distress.
- To compare these factors across different age groups of recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) in Israel.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal design with 563 adult immigrants.
- Analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, and multiple regression analyses were employed.
- Three age groups were compared: 18-29, 30-59, and 60-86 years.
Main Results:
- Older immigrants reported more health-related stressors but similar social support levels compared to younger groups.
- Predictors of distress varied by age: climate/future anxiety (youngest), gender/education/unemployment/time in Israel (middle-aged), marital status/perceived hostility (oldest).
- Only the middle-aged cohort demonstrated a significant decrease in stressors and distress over a 1-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Age significantly moderates the stress process and psychological distress in immigrants.
- Age-specific adjustment difficulties and demographic factors are key determinants of immigrant mental health.
- Targeted interventions considering age-related needs are essential for supporting immigrant populations.