Ethnic and migration-related inequalities in health anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Health anxiety exists on a continuum ranging from the absence of health awareness to the obsessive fear of having a serious illness despite reassurance. Its pathological manifestation can be diagnosed as hypochondriacal or illness anxiety or somatic symptom disorder. Health anxiety is associated with psychological distress and adverse life events, among others, and leads to considerable economic burden. Compared to the majority population, migrants, and ethnic minorities often face major health inequalities. Several mental illnesses and psychosomatic complaints are more common among these groups. To date, potential ethnic and migration-related inequalities in health anxiety have not been clearly described. However, they are of high relevance for the provision of adequate

SUBMITTER: Barbek R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9462455 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature