The Role of the Social Network in Access to Psychosocial Services for Migrant Elderly—A Qualitative Study

Daphne Schoenmakers, Majda Lamkaddem and Jeanine Suurmond
Additional contact information
Daphne Schoenmakers: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre/University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Majda Lamkaddem: Kenniscentrum Sociale Innovatie, Lectoraat Toegang tot het Recht, Hogeschool Utrecht, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
Jeanine Suurmond: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre/University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract : Background: Despite high prevalence of mental problems among elderly migrants in The Netherlands, the use of psychosocial care services by this group is low. Scientific evidence points at the crucial role of social support for mental health and the use of psychosocial services. We therefore explored the role of social networks in the access to psychosocial care among elderly migrants in The Netherlands. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured group interviews and individual interviews. The eight group and eleven individual interviews (respectively n = 58 and n = 11) were conducted in The Netherlands with Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, and Dutch elderly. The data were analysed through coding and comparing fragments and recognizing patterns. Results: Support of the social network is important to navigate to psychosocial care and is most frequently provided by children. However, the social network of elderly migrants is generally not able to meet the needs of the elderly. This is mostly due to poor mental health literacy of the social network, taboo, and stigma around mental illness and the busy lives of the social network members. Conclusion s : Strategies to address help-seeking barriers should consider mental health literacy in elderly migrants as well as their social networks, and counteract taboos and stigma of mental health problems.

Keywords: ageing and diversity; access to health services; diversity health care provision; social network; ethnic minority; elderly migrants; health equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/10/1215/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/10/1215/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1215-:d:114629

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().