Perception of Discrimination in Employment and Health in Refugees and Immigrants

Abstract

Unemployment is associated with poor health among refugees and immigrants; however, the degree to which discrimination in employment contributes to poor health remains unclear because of methodological limitations. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate factors associated with perceived discrimination, ethnicity and migration status, and their implication on health (self-rated health & depression). Perceived discrimination was investigated in 273 Iraqi skilled-workers, refugees and immigrants, who are members of a professional scientific organization. It was hypothesized that unemployment, ethnicity (Arab), and migration status (refugee) would be associated with perceived discrimination. Additionally, it was hypothesized that participants who endorse discrimination are more likely to report poor health. Results reveal that more individuals who were unemployed (46.4%), reported perceived discrimination (X² (1, N=273) =6.63, p<.05), however, when linear regression modeling was applied, age [OR=1.36], gender [OR=2.13], and ethnicity [OR=2.15], not migration status became significant predictors of discrimination. With respect to health, age [OR=2.25], length of residency [OR.93], language skills [OR=3.00], and perception of discrimination [OR=2.12] were predictors of SRH, while ethnicity [OR=3.93], age [OR=1.39], and discrimination [OR=3.26] were significant predictors of depression. Notably, perceived discrimination was a predictor in both health variables. In conclusion, there appears to be a link between discrimination and health in a homogenous refugee and immigrant sample.

Keywords: Perception of discrimination; employment; immigrants; refugees; self-rated health.