| The purpose of this dissertation was to examine mental health trajectories in immigrants living in Canada. The first study examined the rates of emotional problems among parents, versus non-parents, using all three waves of data from a sample of immigrants in Canada (N = 7055). After controlling for a variety of socio-demographic covariates, results from multilevel logistic regression models indicated that immigrant parents have higher odds of reporting emotional problems in comparison to non-parent immigrants, and these differences are stable across the first four years following immigration. These effects were evident after ethnicity was included in the model and after controlling for relevant socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and immigrant category, suggesting an effect of caregiver strain. In terms of ethnic differences, more Black, Arab, South Asian and East Asian respondents report emotional problems over time than White immigrants. Results revealed that immigrants who endorsed being divorced without children are also particularly vulnerable. The second study examined depressive symptoms in a sample of mothers who were evaluated closely after the birth of a baby using four waves of data from the Kids Families and Places study. Results from latent growth curve models indicated that immigrant mothers showed significantly more depressive symptoms in comparison to Canadian born mothers. More specifically, Asian immigrants and Black immigrants were found to have higher levels of depressive symptoms in comparison to White Canadian mothers. It was found that socioeconomic indicators were among the best predictors of maternal depression in Asian immigrant and Black immigrant mothers. The overall goal of this dissertation is to highlight the importance of studying immigrants, as there are a number of stressors and challenges associated with immigration, which may lead to increased rates of mental health problems. These challenges may be even more burdensome for immigrants who must care for economically dependent children. |
