Urban Ecology
IMMIGRATION HEALTH
Medical Anthropology Lecture
From the previous lecture
Cultural adaptation: It refers to certain culture
traits of social institutions which function is to
increase the chances of survival for a society or an
individual in a particular ecological context.
Adaptive role of human ecology (e.g. settlement pattern)
Adaptive role of social organization (e.g. Cultural rules)
The questions addressed by the present lecture
What is unique about cities as human
environment?
What makes them different from the types of
environments in which we have lived earlier?
How will this environment affect our health?
Proportion of Urban and Rural populations
Proportion of Urban and Rural populations
Definitions for Urban Environment
• Built-up area with a specific size
Ecology
• Population density
Sociology
Environmental
• Structuralized built environment
Psychology
• Goods and service providers
Urban planning
• Population density, specific cultural environment, low biodiversity
Anthropology
Common points
The city is an ecosystem.
High biomass, low species diversity,
Massive imports of energy from the surrounding
country-side
Cities have special socio-cultural system
Mechanisms
Biogeochemical cycle
Human social Biodiversity
Urban ecosystem
and economical
activity Climatic change
Water consumption
Mechanisms
Biogeochemical cycle
Human social Biodiversity
Urban ecosystem
and economical
activity Climatic change
Water consumption
How does urbanization affect health?
How does Urbanization affect health?
Urban populations show
higher rates of obesity, In general, urban
hypertension, coronary children are taller and
heart disease, cancer heavier for their age than
rural children.
and mental illness.
How does Urbanization affect health?
Urban populations show
higher rates of obesity, In general, urban
hypertension, coronary children are taller and
heart disease, cancer heavier for their age than
rural children.
and mental illness.
AN OVERSIMPLIFIED VIEW
How does Urbanization affect health?
Urban populations show
In general, urban
higher rates of obesity,
children are taller and
hypertension, coronary
heavier for their age than
heart disease, cancer and
rural children.
mental illness.
Mental health:
• More mental health problems are registered in urban environment, the
UK.
• The same difference was found in Taiwan.
• ….but not in Canada.
How does Urbanization affect health?
Urban populations show
In general, urban
higher rates of obesity,
children are taller and
hypertension, coronary
heavier for their age than
heart disease, cancer and
rural children.
mental illness.
Prevalence of Cancer and Cardiovascular diseases:
• In fact, the higher rate of these diseases in urban environment as
compared to the rural areas is not a general phenomenon.
How does Urbanization affect health?
What are the specific features of cities which are causally
related to health?
Mental health (depression)
Disadvantaged socioeconomical status?
Poor quality of the physical environment?
How does Urbanization affect health?
What are the specific features of cities that are
causally related to health?
Mental health (depression)
Disadvantaged socioeconomical status?
This is not the case based on a study conducted in Amsterdam.
Poor quality physical environment?
There seems to be a proof (in London study).
How does Urbanization affect health?
What are the specific features of cities that are
causally related to health?
Mental health (depression)
Disadvantaged socioeconomical status?
Poor quality physical environment?
Or perhaps both?
How does Urbanization affect health?
What are the specific features of cities that are
causally related to health?
Mental health (depression)
Disadvantaged socioeconomical status?
Poor quality physical environment?
Or perhaps both?
People who were moved to a better housing and better neighborhood reported
fewer psychological stress symptoms than did control families who were not moved.
(New York City).
How does Urbanization affect health?
To what extent are features unique to a particular
city or between cities?
E.g. It is observed that the physical quality of residences in
London is inversely associated with the likelihood of
depression. Is this relationship always relevant in other cities?
How does Urbanization affect health?
To what extent are features unique to a particular
city or between cities?
E.g. It is observed that the physical quality of residences in
London is inversely associated with the likelihood of
depression. Is this relationship always relevant in other cities?
Only in the consideration of sociocultural context. Social networks,
health organizations can strongly modify the above relationship.
A frequently used method
Immigration studies
Immigration studies
A British immigration center
Objective: It was aimed to assess the mental and physical health of
children held within a British immigration center.
24 children
Aged between 3 months to 17 years.
Questionnaires
Immigration studies
A British immigration center
Objective: It was aimed to assess the mental and physical health of
children held within a British immigration center.
24 children
Aged between 3 months to 17 years.
Questionnaires
11 children reported depression and anxiety
Sleep problems
Poor appetite
Emotional symptoms
Immigration studies
Oslo health study
Hypothesis: Migration by itself does not represent a threat to
mental health; it depends on the social context and the
conditions under which the migration takes place.
Investigation of 15723 individuals:
1. Born in Norway
2. Immigrants from high-income countries
3. Immigrants from low-income countries
Psychology of Immigration
Oslo health study
Hypothesis: Migration by itself does not represent a threat to
mental health; it depends on the social context and the
conditions under which the migration takes place.
Investigation of 15723 individuals:
1. Born in Norway
2. Immigrants from high-income countries
3. Immigrants from low-income countries
The level of psychological stress is significantly higher in immigrants from low-
income countries. They also report more powerlessness, more negative life
events, and less social support.
Psychology of Immigration
CONTEXTS
Anthropology, Demography, Economics, Sociology, Psychology
Psychology of Immigration
Psychology of Immigration
CONTEXTS
Anthropology, Demography, Economics, Sociology, Psychology
Psychology of Immigration
CULTURAL
ACCULTURATION
SHOCK
Psychology of Immigration
Acculturation: ”A process that entails contact between two
cultural groups, which results in numerous cultural changes in both
parties.
Changes appear at the level of social groups
Psychology of Immigration
Cultural shock
Wondering
Crisis
Recovering, reintegration
Adaptation, autonomy, independency
Changes appear at the level of individuals
Psychology of Immigration
Integration Assimilation
Separation Marginalization
Strategies of immigrant groups
Psychology of Immigration
Maintenance of heritage culture and identity
+ -
Integration Assimilation
Separation Marginalization
Strategies of immigrant groups
Psychology of Immigration
Maintenance of heritage culture and identity
+ -
+
Relationships among groups
Integration Assimilation
Separation Marginalization
-
Strategies of immigrant groups
Psychology of Immigration
Maintenance of heritage culture and identity
+ -
+
Relationships among groups
Integration Assimilation
Separation Marginalization
-
Strategies of immigrant groups
Stress…
Learning Support Questions
1. What are the main factors affecting migration health?
2. How do we define the process of acculturation?
3. Which are the main stages of the process of cultural shock?
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