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Accessible Summary: What Is Known on the Subject?: Economic and educational opportunities are usually the principal driving forces for migration.There is a large body of quantitative research studies, mainly from the U.K., supporting the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, mainly psychotic disorders, in Afro‐Caribbean immigrants which increases across generations.The process of migration and acculturation can present significant risk factors for psychiatric disorders in immigrants.Research involving members of the Black community is generally conducted with the perception that Blacks are a homogenous group, ignoring the cultural and ethnic differences among the subgroups. What the Paper Adds to Existing Knowledge?: It provides a broadened understanding of the experiences, thoughts and feelings of Afro‐Caribbean immigrants, and the factors within the processes of migration and acculturation that negatively impacts their mental health.It provides context to the volume of quantitative studies indicating a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly psychotic disorders, in Afro‐Caribbean immigrants and their offspring. What Are the Implications for Practice?: Nurses conducting mental health evaluations and assessments for members of the Black community should be culturally competent. Cultural competence entails an understanding of cultural beliefs, race, ethnicity and values. Additionally, knowledge of the effects of migration and acculturation as mental health risks is also important to improve mental health outcomes.Cultural competence will help reduce health disparities by increasing trust in the health care system and providers, not only for Afro‐Caribbean immigrants, but all immigrant groups. Introduction: There is evidence to support migration as a significant risk factor for psychiatric disorders in immigrants. Unfortunately, as an immigrant group, little is known about the mental health of Afro‐Caribbean immigrants and the factors that threaten their mental health. Aim: To explore the perceived effects of migration on the mental health of Afro‐Caribbean immigrants. Methods: A qualitative narrative synthesis was employed to interpretively integrate 13 primary qualitative research findings. Eleven of the primary studies were conducted in the U.K., one in the U.S. and one in Canada. Results: The themes gleaned: (1) experiences of racism, (2) generational conflicts, (3) feelings of powerlessness, (4) limited socioeconomic resources, (5) unfulfilled expectations, (6) fragmented family and community and (7) ignoring cultural/ethnic identity. Discussion: The findings broadened the understanding and experiences of Afro‐Caribbean immigrants and their mental health vulnerabilities as they navigate through migration and acculturation. Implications for Practice: Addressing the mental health of Afro‐Caribbeans will require health care providers to: (1) be cognizant of their immigrant status; (2) understand how migration and acculturation influence the mental health of immigrants; (3) be aware of the ethnocultural differences among Black subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with changes over time in the sex composition of a given population. Such changes are generated by the components of population change: natality, mortality, immigration and emigration. The objective of this paper is to propose a model which provides a quantitative statement concerning the effect of each such component on the change in the sex composition of the population. It is shown that the model is applicable to the measurement of sex composition by either the masculinity proportion of the sex ratio. To demonstrate the application of the proposed model, an example based on Canadian data is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Immigrant youth face heightened risks of substance use due to the stress associated with immigration and acculturation. While parental intervention can have a preventative impact on substance use, parents need to be well-informed about substance use and effective interventions that can prevent substance use among immigrant youth. Such interventions ought to be culturally sensitive, family-based, and targeted at the specific substances that are prevalent in a given context. Identifying and curating interventions that can empower parents in addressing substance use can help mitigate the risks that immigrant youth may face. Methods: This scoping review aimed to identify the types, characteristics, and effectiveness of family-based substance use intervention programs. Based on Arksay and O'Malley's guidelines, interventions included in the review must have met the following criteria: (a) was a family-based intervention aiming to prevent substance use; (b) targeted immigrant teens aged 12 to 17 years old; (c) was published in English; (d) originated from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United States. The pinch table was used to synthesize included articles, after which studies were compared and categorized, and cross-cutting categories were identified. Results: After screening 4551 searched literature, 13 studies that utilized family-based interventions were included in the review. All interventions were face-to-face programs, and most interventions involved parents and youth as participants. Eco-developmental theory and active learning strategies were used by multiple interventions. Given immigrant families were target stakeholders, both deep structure and surface structure cultural adaptations were utilized. Interventions increased parents' knowledge and skills regarding substance use prevention and delayed substance use initiation among youth. Conclusion: From the review, it was evident that parents are an essential element in any program aiming to prevent or reduce children's substance use. Besides information about substance use prevention, the curriculum also involves parenting and communication skills for parents to understand the protective effects of family. Effective family-based interventions for immigrant youth require attention to parenting and immigration stress, while also considering cultural adaptation. Future directions and limitations are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health is the property of Canadian Periodical for Community Studies Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to discuss the experiences of multiple forced migrations and resettlement among two refugee families in a mid-sized Canadian city. Design/methodology/approach -- Case studies are located within the contingencies of the participants' lives and the meanings they provide to the events. A postcolonial feminist perspective guided the data analysis to explore the micro-level of individual experiences that unfold within a raced, gendered, and classed reality. Open-ended interviews, participant observation, and field notes were used to collect participants' perspectives. Data were collected until saturation occurred. Findings -- An in-depth analysis of these two case studies revealed that lack of choice and lack of access to health and social services affect health through constant revival of traumatic past experiences prior to arrival to Canada. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: first, shared experiences of forced migrations; second, the past and present: construction of new identities; and third, resettlement challenges and opportunities. These themes overlap and intersect to shape the experiences of double forced migration. Research limitations/implications -- This research has limitations related to the sample size but provides data on a topic that deserves more attention in the field of immigrant and health studies. The authors argue that health and social professionals must resist "finalizing" refugees into disempowered identities that undermine human agency. Originality/value -- Research on resettlement experiences after forced migration is a burgeoning field in refugee studies. The originality lies in drawing on Bahktin to develop practical implications to guide health and social practice in this area marked by racialization and fundamentalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Title. Intimate male partner violence in the migration process: intersections ofgender, race and class. Aim. This paper is a report of a s tudy of Sri Lankan Tamil Canadian immigrants’ perspectives on factors that contribute to intimate male partner violence in the postmigration context. Background. Increasing evidence illustrates the extent and nature of intimate male partner violence and its links to a range of physical and mental health problems for women around the world. However, there has been little health sciences research on intimate male partner violence in the postmigration context in Canada. Methods. Data were collected for this qualitative descriptive study in 2004 and 2005, through individual interviews with community leaders ( n = 16), four focus groups with women and four with men from the general community ( n = 41), and individual interviews with women who had experienced intimate male partner violence ( n = 6). The research was informed by a postcolonial feminist perspective and an ecosystemic framework. Findings. Participants’ conceptualization of the production of intimate male partner violence in the postmigration context involved (a) experiences of violence in the premigration context and during border crossing; (b) gender inequity in the marital institution; (c) changes in social networks and supports; and (d) changes in socioeconomic status and privilege. Conclusion. Increasing immigration requires that nurses pay attention to and respond appropriately to women’s unique needs, based on complex and interrelated factors that produce intimate male partner violence in the postmigration context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African immigrant children experience some of the poorest mental health outcomes in Canada, yet limited research has systematically mental health determinants among this growing demographic. Our participatory action research project (PAR) explored, from the perspectives of parents, the factors influencing the mental health of African immigrant children in Alberta, Canada. The project utilized an intersectionality theoretical lens to collect and analyze data from a sample of 81 African immigrant parents who participated in nine conversation cafés and five focus groups. This PAR approach provided an ideal structure to engage parents and generate knowledge on the factors influencing their children's mental health. Parents identified racial discrimination, limited mental health awareness, limited access to mental health supports, changing family dynamics, parental absenteeism, and unresolved pre-migration trauma as factors influencing their children's mental health. These factors were perceived as contributing to children's experiences of material deprivation, social problems, and emotional difficulties. Our findings suggest that interventions to overcome these factors and enhance the mental health of African immigrant children must target transformation of the family, community, and cultural systems within which their lives are embedded, as well as the policies and institutions that produce and reproduce child mental health vulnerabilities. Highlights: Racism was perceived as causing employment difficulties, material deprivation, low educational attainment, and emotional difficulties in children. Changing family dynamics (e.g., marital divorce) resulting from resettlement pressures were perceived as a source of mental stress. Unresolved pre-migration traumas were reported as a risk factor for mood swings, interpersonal difficulties, and illicit drug use. Utilization of mental health supports was curtailed by stigma and limited mental health awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The journey following migration for adolescent youth can consist of psychosocial and sociocultural difficulties with acculturating and integrating into the new host society. The family unit, however, has been identified to be a source of strength and wellbeing for youth during the integration process. This study explores factors that are suggested to make the home environment more supportive after migration. Newcomer youth between 15 and 18 years of age within a medium-sized Canadian city, living in Canada for no more than 2 years were interviewed in a group setting. Mixed methods were utilized and collected data was analyzed using concept mapping. Participants stated wanting more positive feedback from and increased communication with parents, in addition to having a home that is more open and welcoming to friends. The needs of youth can be sourced in the effects of the migrant journey and acculturation process. By improving the degrees of understanding, warmth, communication and cultural integration in the home, youth and their families can develop a greater sense of cohesion which can assist with supporting their migrant experience. Implications for practitioners working with newcomer youth and their families are provided, in addition to research and policy-related implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultural and ethnic landscape of North America is becoming increasingly diverse, with many refugees fleeing torture and persecution and seeking safety in the United States and Canada. In working with this population, clinicians must implement culturally appropriate methods of assessing and treating individuals from diverse backgrounds. Culture can exert a powerful and often misunderstood influence on psychological assessment, and the critical challenge is to account for both subjective experience of the client and the objective symptoms or behaviors present. The present review explores the literature on cross-cultural issues in the assessment of survivors of torture. I summarize best practices and review the theoretical and statistical bases for establishing the equivalence of constructs across cultures. Discussion centers around the utility of a cross-culturally valid measure of distress, and it is hoped that this review will encourage collaboration between clinicians and psychometricians to develop assessments for use with this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how, in the words of Appadurai, “locality emerges in a global world” (Appadurai, 1996, p.18). Specifically, it articulates the nature of information practices in the lives of 14 newcomers to Canada who have migrated from the Philippines to the medium‐size city of Winnipeg. Using a qualitative and exploratory approach, this study applies a transnational lens to this area of research to make explicit the detailed activities and outcomes of newcomer information practices, in particular drawing out the dimensions and implications of newcomers' participation within and across local and global social networks, translocal information landscapes, and across their settlement trajectories. The result is a Translocal Meaning Making process that describes how newcomers come to make sense and use information across distinct and sometimes contradictory information spaces. Our findings suggest that migrant information practices shift across space and time and are constituted both individually, through cognitive and affective processes, and socially, through shared imaginaries, through interactions within and across translocal information landscapes, and through complex deterritorialized networks of people and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada has one of the world’s largest refugee resettlement programs in the world. Just over 48 percent of Canadian refugees are women, with many of them of childbearing age and pregnant. Refugee and asylum-seeking women in Canada face a five times greater risk of developing postpartum depression than Canadian-born women. Mainstream psychological approaches to postpartum depression emphasize individual-level risk factors (e.g. hormones, thoughts, emotions) and individualized treatments (e.g. psychotherapy, medication). This conceptualization is problematic when applied to refugee and asylum-seeking women because it fails to acknowledge the migrant experience and the unique set of circumstances from which these women have come. The present theoretical article explores some of the consequences of applying this psychiatric label to the distress experienced by refugee and asylum-seeking women and presents an alternative way of conceptualizing and alleviating this distress. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

RONQUILLO C, BOSCHMA G, WONG ST and QUINEY L. Nursing Inquiry 2011; 18: 262-275 Beyond greener pastures: exploring contexts surrounding Filipino nurse migration in Canada through oral history The history of immigrant Filipino nurses in Canada has received little attention, yet Canada is a major receiving country of a growing number of Filipino migrants and incorporates Filipino immigrant nurses into its healthcare workforce at a steady rate. This study aims to look beyond the traditional economic and policy analysis perspectives of global migration and beyond the push and pull factors commonly discussed in the migration literature. Through oral history, this study explores biographical histories of nine Filipino immigrant nurses currently working in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Narratives reveal the instrumental role of the deeply embedded culture of migration in the Philippines in influencing Filipino nurses to migrate. Additionally, the stories illustrate the weight of cultural pressures and societal constructs these nurses faced that first colored their decision to pursue a career in nursing and ultimately to pursue emigration. Oral history is a powerful tool for examining migration history and sheds light on nuances of experience that might otherwise be neglected. This study explores the complex connections between various factors motivating Filipino nurse migration, the decision-making process, and other pre-migration experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Young people create differentiated models of belonging. Their strategies reflect contexualized competences – the capacity to understand and negotiate the influence of national frameworks in specific situations. Theories that understand belonging as processual and intersectional offer useful frameworks with which to analyse this. This article uses data from empirical research with young people in a German secondary school and a Canadian junior high school to highlight young people’s situated competences and their critique of the respective frameworks of belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The displacement and migration of people has been a significant feature of the post-World War II world. The social relationships of immigrants in the communities in which they are settled present problems of extraordinary importance to social scientists as well as to community leaders. Here is a study of a town in Canada and its relationships with its recent immigrants. This approach appears to yield a better understanding of variations in attitude than the typical survey analysis approach, where it is usual to look for relations between attitudes and age, sex, residence, and similar personal characteristics of the subjects. The argument is supported by the present analysis, which yielded no significant associations between attitude direction and the familiar personal characteristics except educational and income level, and the association between attitude direction and either of those two variables seemed better understood by interpretation in terms of the structure of interaction systems. In summary, the analysis suggests that attitude direction is associated with the control of interaction and with the type and distribution of rewards in the relevant interaction system.