The relationship between immigration and depression in South Africa: evidence from the first South African National Income Dynamics Study.

Tomita A, Labys CA, Burns JK. The relationship between immigration and depression in South Africa: evidence from the first South African National Income Dynamics Study. Journal of immigrant and minority health. 2014 Dec;16(16). 1062-8. PMID: 24526432 [PubMed] PMCID: PMC4133328 NIHMSID: NIHMS566222.

Few studies have examined depression among immigrants in post-apartheid South Africa, and factors that strengthen the relationship between immigration and depression. The first wave of the National Income Dynamics Study was used to investigate links between immigration and depression (n = 15,205). Depression symptoms were assessed using a 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Immigrants in South Africa had fewer depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 10) than locally-born participants (17.1 vs. 32.4%, F = 13.5, p