Mental Health of Pakistani Immigrants in Norway
Author Information
Author(s): Syed Hammad Raza, Dalgard Odd Steffen, Dalen Ingvild, Claussen Bjørgulf, Hussain Akthar, Selmer Randi, Ahlberg Nora
Primary Institution: University of Oslo
Hypothesis
The study investigates the association between psychological distress and psychosocial factors among Pakistani immigrants and ethnic Norwegians in Oslo.
Conclusion
Poor social support and economic conditions are important mediators of mental health among immigrants.
Supporting Evidence
- Pakistanis reported less education and lower employment rates than Norwegians.
- The mean HSCL score for Pakistanis was significantly higher than for Norwegians.
- Adjusting for socioeconomic factors eliminated the difference in distress levels between the two groups.
Takeaway
This study shows that Pakistani immigrants in Norway feel more stressed than ethnic Norwegians, mainly because they have less support and worse economic conditions.
Methodology
Data was collected from questionnaires as part of the Oslo Health Study 2000–2001, involving 13581 ethnic Norwegians and 339 ethnic Pakistanis.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias, and cultural relevance of the instruments used may affect results.
Limitations
The study is based on a cross-sectional design, which limits causal conclusions.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 13581 ethnic Norwegians and 339 ethnic Pakistanis, with varying levels of education and employment.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.005
Confidence Interval
1.48–1.59 for Pakistanis, 1.29–1.30 for Norwegians
Statistical Significance
p<0.005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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