Depression, psychological distress and coping strategies among African Migrants in Australia: A cross sectional web-based study

Abstract

Abstract Background African migrants constitute a significant proportion of the Australian population, with over 7.6 million migrants residing in the country in 2020. While migration and resettlement offer opportunities, the associated stressors may adversely affect the mental health and well-being of African migrants. This study explores, for the first time, the prevalence of depression and psychological distress among African migrants in Australia and explored the relationship between coping mechanisms and mental health outcomes. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey of adult African migrants in Australia was conducted between February and May 2022. Participants (N = 167) without a refugee status who resided in Australia for at least 12 months were recruited through community groups. An e-link of the survey created in Qualtrics was posted on online platforms (WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook) and distributed via emails of community members. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 assessed mental health outcomes and the Brief COPE assessed coping strategies. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the association between demographic variables, language ability and mental health outcomes. Results Most respondents (89.2%) were between 25-54 years of age, and proficient in English. Approximately one in every three individuals reported higher levels of either depression or psychological distress while 30.9% reported higher levels of both mental health outcomes. Age-specific rates revealed higher levels of depression and psychological distress among younger participants (18-24 years, 62.5%) compared to older age groups (55-59 years, 22.2%; p<0.05, for both). Coping strategies, such as self-blame, self-distraction, and behavioural disengagement, were significant predictors of depression. Similar findings were observed for psychological distress, with self-blame, behavioural disengagement, and religious coping identified as significant predictors. Language ability did not significantly differ between groups with varying levels of depression or distress. However, younger age was associated with higher levels of depression (t(63) = -3.17, p = 0.002; β = -0.29) and psychological distress (t(63) = -2.87, p = 0.03; β = -0.22). Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health issues and promoting effective coping strategies among African migrants in Australia, particularly targeting young individuals.