ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to examine the psychological distress of Soviet immigrant physicians in Israel and their self-assessed sources of this distress. The subject of this study included 385 (152 men and 233 women) Soviet immigrant physicians who had participated in preparatory licensing courses. The investigation shows that women have higher scores of distress than men in Global Stress Index of the Brief Symptom Inventory and its subscales which reflect anxiety. A comparison of Global Stress Index of the subjects of this study with U.S. and British published non-patient norms shows a significantly higher distress level among the immigrant physicians. Most of the respondents evaluated their psychologic state before immigration to Israel as better (303 or 78.7%). These assessments are found to be directly dependent on the stress load of the respondents at the time of the interview. Perception of the sources of absorption difficulties and distress scores are also found to be in close dependence. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicate that both sex and distress are statistically significant predictors of immigrants' estimation of their difficulties. However, it is the level of distress that has the greatest influence on the assessments of the respondents.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Emigration and Immigration , Physicians/psychology , Self-Assessment , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Adult , Female , Humans , Israel/ethnology , Male , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/etiology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , RussiaABSTRACT
The goal of the present study was to examine the psychological distress of Soviet immigrant physicians in Israel and to identify risk and resilience factors in the psychological adjustment to immigration. This is a first report on a study conducted among 385 (152 men and 233 women) Soviet immigrant physicians who participated in preparatory licensing courses. The design of the study is described in detail and initial results are presented. These include demographic characteristics of the sample, background variables connected with motivation for immigration and reported absorption difficulties encountered in Israel. Family problems were found to be significantly correlated with depression: the highest rate of reported depression was found among single parents. Subjects who were examined during the second year after immigration reported depression more often than subjects who were in Israel less than a year. The findings suggest that motivational and family factors may enhance or mitigate the psychological distress experienced by immigrants.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Emigration and Immigration , Physicians/psychology , Social Adjustment , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Acculturation , Adult , Depressive Disorder/etiology , Female , Humans , Israel , Male , Middle Aged , Russia/ethnology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Missile attacks on Israel during the Gulf War created an expected atmosphere of fear and anxiety among hospital nursing staff. There seems to be little doubt that staff group sessions were helpful in alleviating these feelings. The group members openly expressed this sentiment, and it was also the clear impression of the group leaders. The groups were also helpful in dealing with the prevalent theme of conflicting loyalties of the nurses, ie, their profession versus their families. The desire for and benefit from group sessions decreased secondary to a shift in the perceived threat. As the external threat receded, stress became largely due to prolonged hours in close quarters with other staff. It is too early to be aware of any long-term consequences on nursing staff from the recent war situation. Assessments in this regard are intended in the future, most likely in the form of written evaluation and personal interviews.
