Diferential associations between psychosocial stress and obesity among Ghanaians in Europe and in Ghana: fndings from the RODAM study
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Date
2019
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SPRINGER
Abstract
Purpose Psychosocial stress is associated with obesity in some populations, but it is unclear whether the association is
related to migration. This study explored associations between psychosocial stress and obesity among Ghanaian migrants
in Europe and non-migrant Ghanaians in Ghana.
Methods Cross-sectional data from the RODAM study were used, including 5898 Ghanaians residing in Germany, the
UK, the Netherlands, rural Ghana, and urban Ghana. Perceived discrimination, negative life events and stress at work or at
home were examined in relation to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Linear regression analyses were
performed separately for migrants and non-migrants stratifed by sex.
Results Perceived discrimination was not associated with BMI and WC in both migrants and non-migrants. However, nega tive
life events were positively associated with BMI (β=0.78, 95% CI 0.34–1.22) and WC (β=1.96, 95% CI 0.79–3.12) among male Ghanaian
migrants. Similarly, stress at work or at home was positively associated with BMI (β=0.28, 95% CI 0.00–0.56) and WC (β=0.84, 95%
CI 0.05–1.63) among male Ghanaian migrants. Among non-migrant Ghanaians, in contrast, stress at work or at home was inversely
associated with BMI and WC in both males (β = −0.66, 95% CI −1.03 to −0.28; β = −1.71 95% CI −2.69 to −0.73, respectively) and females
(β = −0.81, 95% CI −1.20 to −0.42; β = −1.46, 95% CI −2.30 to −0.61, respectively) Conclusions Negative life events and stress at work or
at home are associated with increased body weight among male Ghanaians in European settings, whereas stress at work or at home
is associated with reduced body weight among Ghana ians in Ghana. More work is needed to understand the underlying factors driving
these diferential associations to assist prevention eforts.
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This article is published by Springer and is also available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01682-1
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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (2020) 55:45–56 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01682-1