Social determinants of mental health problems among South Asian migrants living in industrialized countries: a systematic review.

Prashamsa Pandey, Saman Khalesi, Sophiya Dulal, Grish Paudel, Lal Rawal

Abstract readSystematic Review

In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of public health (Oxford, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Depression and health-related quality of life in cardiovascular patients: A cross-sectional study on the mediating roles of fear, attention, and avoidance.Medicine · 2026
Article

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Prashamsa PandeySchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Sydney, 400 Kent Street, NSW 2000, Australia.

Saman KhalesiAppleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Unit 8.2, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8208-2518

Sophiya DulalSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 2751, Australia.

Grish PaudelSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Sydney, 400 Kent Street, NSW 2000, Australia.

Lal RawalSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Sydney, 400 Kent Street, NSW 2000, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMigration involves a risk of mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, and depression. This study systematically reviewed social determinants of mental health problems among South Asian migrants living in industrialized countries.

methodsFour databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO) were searched for observational studies published between 2000 and 2025. The social ecological model was used as a theoretical framework. Studies that included adult South Asian migrants using validated mental health tools were included. Social determinants of mental health were identified through extraction of social factors that demonstrated statistically significant associations with mental health problems. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO and followed PRISMA guidelines.

resultsSeventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression ranged from 23% to 59%, 20% to 50%, and 9% to 47%, respectively. Common social determinants of mental health problems were age, gender, marital status, social support, language, education, and employment. Being older, female, unmarried, or unemployed or having less social support or lower education, or facing language barriers were major factors influencing mental health problems.

conclusionsThe findings warrant the development and implementation of policies focused on addressing these social determinants of mental health problems and improving access to and utilization of mental health services.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersSocial Determinants of HealthTransients and MigrantsAdultAsiaDepressionDeveloped CountriesFemaleHumansMaleMental Healthanxietydepressionindustrialized countriesSouth Asian migrantsstress

Identifiers

PMID40795145

DOI10.1093/pubmed/fdaf092

PMCPMC12669993

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