REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS MENTAL-HEALTH - ASSOCIATION OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND POST-IMMIGRATION FACTORS

Several demographic and post-immigration factors related to self-repor ted symptoms of anxiety and depression of immigrants in New Zealand we re examined in a study involving a sample of 129 Southeast Asian refug ees, 57 Pacific Island immigrants, and 63 British immigrants to New Ze aland. A questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) in English and in three Southeast Asian translations were administered , followed by an interview in English or with an interpreter. The find ings suggest that demographic characteristics are not associated with symptom level. Post-immigration factors, such as experiencing discrimi nation in New Zealand, not having close friends, being unemployed, and spending most of one's time with one's own ethnic group affected anxi ety and depression scores.