Immigration, Homeownership, and Mental Health

Abstract

The author examines if the association between immigration and mental health, as measured by psychological distress, is altered by homeownership status among a sample of immigrants to Toronto, Canada compared with the native-born ( n = 1,909). Adjusted multivariate results indicate lower psychological distress among foreign-born homeowners compared with native-born renters and owners and foreign-born renters. This association is due in part to greater ontological security among immigrant homeowners, compared with renters (native-born and foreign-born) and higher perceived status attainment compared with foreign-born renters. However, contrary to predictions, the lower psychological distress among foreign-born owners, compared with native-born owners, is not due to higher ontological security among this group of the foreign-born compared with their native-born counterparts.