Depressive Symptoms in Immigrants from Türkiye in Germany During COVID-19: The Role of Socioeconomic, Cultural-Linguistic, and Family-Related Factors
AI Summary
Approximately 70% of Turkish-origin immigrants screened at risk for clinical depression during winter 2021/2022.
Subjective socioeconomic status correlated more strongly with depressive symptoms than objective socioeconomic indicators.
Stronger host culture orientation, better German proficiency, marriage or partnership, having children, and larger household size associated with fewer depressive symptoms.
Transcult Psychiatry. 2026 May 28:13634615261421865. doi: 10.1177/13634615261421865. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated ethnic inequalities in mental health. So far, little is known about the mental health of immigrants from Türkiye/Turkey, one of the largest migrant groups in Germany, which already had a higher risk for depressive symptoms before the pandemic. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a sample of Turkish-origin immigrants and to explore the role of socioeconomic, cultural-linguistic, as well as family-related factors for depressive symptoms. A total of 119 adult immigrants from Türkiye living in Germany participated in a cross-sectional online study in winter 2021/2022 (age: M = 43.2 years, SD = 11.31; length of stay in Germany: M = 20.0 years, SD = 17.24). Participants completed several scales, including the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CESD), and provided sociodemographic data. Overall, 69.75% of the participants had a CESD sum score above a critical cutoff, suggesting they may have been at risk for clinical depression. Subjective measures of socioeconomic status were more strongly associated with depressive symptoms than objective measures. Heritage cultural orientation was not associated with depressive symptoms. A stronger orientation towards the host culture, German language proficiency, being married or living with a partner, having children, and living with more persons in one household were linked to less depressive symptoms. The study sheds light on the high prevalence of depressive symptoms and the potential role of its determinants in immigrants from Türkiye. These findings may contribute to developing frameworks that explain mental health impairment in immigrant populations.
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