Canada has remained one of the most popular destinations for immigrants. Most specifically, the number of immigrant women is growing so that by 2031, more than 52% of immigrants in Canada will be women. Immigration may be a challenging process with potentially detrimental consequences, especially for marginalized immigrant women, resulting from the intersectionality of gender and other factors, such as immigration status, race, religiosity/spirituality, and socioeconomic status. Studies suggest the protective effects of social support for the mental health of immigrant women. Social support from family, friends, ethnic community, and Canadian-based institutions may help these women fulfil their diverse demands. Additionally, creativity and artmaking may provide individuals with a tool, other than words, to express themselves. Artmaking can also be an avenue toward financial empowerment and a medium by which immigrant women can deepen their understanding of factors contributing to their mental health. Exchanging social support and creating artworks may simultaneously occur in community arts programs with promising influence on mental health. In my doctoral research project, I use a Constructivist Grounded Theory and a combination of arts-based methodologies and in-depth interviews to explore mental health-related stories of immigrant women in Canada. In this paper, I discuss the impact of culture on the mental health of this population through affecting their agency and resiliency during and after COVID-19. Findings have implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

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Culture and Mental Health Among Immigrant Women in Canada

  • Maryam Motia

摘要

Canada has remained one of the most popular destinations for immigrants. Most specifically, the number of immigrant women is growing so that by 2031, more than 52% of immigrants in Canada will be women. Immigration may be a challenging process with potentially detrimental consequences, especially for marginalized immigrant women, resulting from the intersectionality of gender and other factors, such as immigration status, race, religiosity/spirituality, and socioeconomic status. Studies suggest the protective effects of social support for the mental health of immigrant women. Social support from family, friends, ethnic community, and Canadian-based institutions may help these women fulfil their diverse demands. Additionally, creativity and artmaking may provide individuals with a tool, other than words, to express themselves. Artmaking can also be an avenue toward financial empowerment and a medium by which immigrant women can deepen their understanding of factors contributing to their mental health. Exchanging social support and creating artworks may simultaneously occur in community arts programs with promising influence on mental health. In my doctoral research project, I use a Constructivist Grounded Theory and a combination of arts-based methodologies and in-depth interviews to explore mental health-related stories of immigrant women in Canada. In this paper, I discuss the impact of culture on the mental health of this population through affecting their agency and resiliency during and after COVID-19. Findings have implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.