Somatization in an immigrant population in Israel: A community survey of prevalence, risk factors, and help-seeking behavior

Objective: Knowledge about the frequency, severity, and risk factors of som atization (somatic manifestations of psychological distress) among immigran ts is limited. The authors examined somatic distress in an immigrant popula tion in Israel, explored its relationship with psychological distress sympt oms and health-care-seeking behavior, and determined its correlation with t he length of residence in Israel. Method: Two reliable and validated self-r eport questionnaires, the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Demographic Psych osocial Inventory, were administered in a cross-sectional community survey of 966 Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union who had arrived in Is rael within the previous 30 months. Results: The 6-month prevalence rate fo r somatization was 21.9% and for psychological distress, 55.3%. The current rate of co-occurrence of somatization and psychological distress was 20.4% . The most common physical complaints were heart or chest pain, feelings of weakness in different parts of the body, and nausea. Somatization was posi tively correlated with the intensity of psychological distress and with hel p-seeking behavior during the 6 months preceding the survey. Women reported significantly more somatic and other distress symptoms than men. Older and divorced or widowed individuals were more likely to meet the criteria for somatization. Within the first 30 months after resettlement, longer length of residence was associated with higher levels of somatization symptoms. Co nclusions: Somatization is a prevalent problem among individuals in crosscu ltural transition and is associated with psychological distress; demographi c characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, and duration of immi gration; self-reported health problems; and immigrants' help-seeking behavi or.