Abstract
Immigrants represent a substantial proportion of suicides in Canada. This study assesses the hypothesis that high immigrant
density fosters personal sense of community belonging among immigrants, and in turn, protects against suicide risk. This multilevel
cross-sectional study is based on individual-level data from the 2007 Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 12,951 participants)
merged with area-level data from the 2006 Canadian census (n = 57 health regions). Prevalence of suicidal ideation was 1.3 %.
Among rural racial minority immigrants, each 10 % increase in immigrant density associated with 67 % lower odds of suicidal
ideation (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.77); sense of community belonging did not mediate this association,
but was independently associated with suicidal ideation (AOR = 0.44, 95 % CI: 0.28–0.69). Immigrant density was not associated
with suicidal ideation among white immigrants or urban settings. Immigrant density and sense of community belonging may correlate
with suicidal ideation through distinct mechanisms of association.
density fosters personal sense of community belonging among immigrants, and in turn, protects against suicide risk. This multilevel
cross-sectional study is based on individual-level data from the 2007 Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 12,951 participants)
merged with area-level data from the 2006 Canadian census (n = 57 health regions). Prevalence of suicidal ideation was 1.3 %.
Among rural racial minority immigrants, each 10 % increase in immigrant density associated with 67 % lower odds of suicidal
ideation (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.77); sense of community belonging did not mediate this association,
but was independently associated with suicidal ideation (AOR = 0.44, 95 % CI: 0.28–0.69). Immigrant density was not associated
with suicidal ideation among white immigrants or urban settings. Immigrant density and sense of community belonging may correlate
with suicidal ideation through distinct mechanisms of association.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9657-8
- Authors
- Stephen W. Pan, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Richard M. Carpiano, Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912