Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41339814›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2025

Depression, psychological distress, and coping strategies among African migrants in Australia: a cross-sectional web-based study.

Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu, Lillian Mwanri, Edith N Botchway-Commey, David Chisanga, Agness Tembo, Nnaemeka Meribe, Kathomi Gatwiri, Obed Adonteng-Kissi, Kerrie P Doyle, Frank Darkwa Baffour and 1 more

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Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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

11 authors.

Uchechukwu Levi OsuagwuBathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, PO Box 9008, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia. l.osuagwu@westernsydney.edu.au.
Lillian MwanriCentre for Public Health Research, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide Campus, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Edith N Botchway-CommeyBrain and Mind Group, Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
David ChisangaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Building 75, Level 3, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
Agness TemboSusan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
Nnaemeka MeribeCentre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing (PHEHF), Torrens University, Adelaide, Australia.
Kathomi GatwiriCollege of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
Obed Adonteng-KissiSchool of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Southwest Campus 585 Robertson Drive, Bunbury, WA, 6230, Australia.
Kerrie P DoyleTranslational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
Frank Darkwa BaffourSchool of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Kent Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
Ahmed A MoustafaDepartment of Human Anatomy and Physiology, the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAfrican migrants constitute a significant proportion of the Australian population. While migration and resettlement offer opportunities, the associated stressors may adversely affect the mental health and well-being of African migrants. This study explored, for the first time, the prevalence of depression and psychological distress among African migrants in Australia and the relationship between coping mechanisms and mental health outcomes.

methodsA web-based cross-sectional survey of adult African migrants in Australia was conducted between February and May 2022. Participants (N = 167) who did not have 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.

resultsMost respondents (45.2%) were between 35 and 44 years of age and were proficient in English. Approximately one in 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. Notably, language ability did not significantly differ between groups with varying levels of depression or distress. However, the distressed group was significantly younger than the non-distressed group (X² (n = 131) = -2.13, p = 0.03), while the higher depression group tended to be younger than the minimal depression group (X

conclusionThese findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health issues and promoting effective coping strategies among African migrants in Australia, particularly targeting young individuals.

Indexed as

Adaptation, PsychologicalBlack PeopleDepressionPsychological DistressTransients and MigrantsAdolescentAdultAfricaAustraliaCoping SkillsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceAfricanCoping strategyDepressionMental healthMigrantsPsychological distress

Identifiers

PMID41339814
PMCPMC12781817

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.