Review

Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis)

Volume: 43 Number: 2 August 25, 2023
TR EN

Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis)

Abstract

There is scarce and conflicting information on how Turkish immigrants express, experience, and understand common mental health difficulties (CMHDs) as well as their preferences and needs. This conflict often emerges in the literature around symptom presentation and the causal attributions of CMHDs. Since inconsistent information may have real life consequences for Turkish immigrants it is important to investigate this area. The aim of this review was to explore the experiences and understandings of common mental health difficulties of Turkish immigrants. A systematic review using thematic synthesis adopted from Thomas & Harden (2008) was conducted to evaluate the existing literature. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycArticles and PsychInfo were searched. Onlyqualitative studies conducted with Turkish immigrants with lived experience were included (n = 10). The analysis was data-driven (inductive) leading to three themes with twelve subthemes being generated. Participants reported experiencing both emotional and physical symptoms. They linked their distress to significant life events and chronic adverse conditions, interpersonal conflict, immigration and discrimination related problems and problematic encounters with healthcare workers. Traditional/spiritual and biological understandings of mental health were also discussed. Family and social support, personal resources, and the utilisation of medical and traditional/ spiritual resources were reported as coping strategies, though some were sceptical about the latter. This review found that Turkish immigrants experienced and expressed their distress in both emotional and physical terms, just like many other communities. Their understandings were mainly psychosocial but contained elements of biomedical and traditional models. Since research in this area is limited, further and better research is recommended. Policy makers and practitioners are also advised to provide meaningful and effective care for every community, including Turkish immigrants.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Social and Personality Psychology (Other)

Journal Section

Review

Authors

Gill Green This is me
0000-0003-4245-1961
United Kingdom

Frances Blumenfeld This is me
0000-0002-0982-6381
United Kingdom

Publication Date

August 25, 2023

Submission Date

January 9, 2022

Acceptance Date

May 3, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 43 Number: 2

APA
Akan, A., Green, G., & Blumenfeld, F. (2023). Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis). Studies in Psychology, 43(2), 215-254. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2022-1041055
AMA
1.Akan A, Green G, Blumenfeld F. Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis). Studies in Psychology. 2023;43(2):215-254. doi:10.26650/SP2022-1041055
Chicago
Akan, Ayse, Gill Green, and Frances Blumenfeld. 2023. “Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis)”. Studies in Psychology 43 (2): 215-54. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2022-1041055.
EndNote
Akan A, Green G, Blumenfeld F (August 1, 2023) Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis). Studies in Psychology 43 2 215–254.
IEEE
[1]A. Akan, G. Green, and F. Blumenfeld, “Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis)”, Studies in Psychology, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 215–254, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.26650/SP2022-1041055.
ISNAD
Akan, Ayse - Green, Gill - Blumenfeld, Frances. “Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis)”. Studies in Psychology 43/2 (August 1, 2023): 215-254. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2022-1041055.
JAMA
1.Akan A, Green G, Blumenfeld F. Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis). Studies in Psychology. 2023;43:215–254.
MLA
Akan, Ayse, et al. “Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis)”. Studies in Psychology, vol. 43, no. 2, Aug. 2023, pp. 215-54, doi:10.26650/SP2022-1041055.
Vancouver
1.Ayse Akan, Gill Green, Frances Blumenfeld. Physical Symptoms or Somatisation? Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences and Understandings of Common Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review (Thematic Synthesis). Studies in Psychology. 2023 Aug. 1;43(2):215-54. doi:10.26650/SP2022-1041055