The relationship of separation from love objects and a severed national ideology to depression among Israeli immigrants in the United States

Abstract

The present research is concerned with reactive symptomatology of depression experienced by Israeli immigrants who have remained in the U.S.A. despite their recognized intention to return to their homeland.;The research is directed towards the emotional reaction of this immigrant group set off by its physical separation from love objects remaining in the homeland and by a broken ideological commitment to return.;This study is designed to answer the following questions: (1) Is there a relationship between attachment to love objects still in the homeland and the Israeli national ideology of return? (2) Is there a relationship between separation from love objects remaining in the homeland and depressive experiences? (3) Is there a relationship between the broken ideological commitment to return and depressive experiences?;The data of the research were obtained through a survey of 107 Israeli immigrants residing in the metropolitan New York/New Jersey area located by means of the "snowball" technique. The immigrants responded to a questionnaire on attachment to love objects, commitment to a national ideology of return and a questionnaire on depression.;The major findings of this study indicate that each of the independent variables (separation from love objects and a broken ideological commitment) related significantly to depressive experiences among Israeli immigrants. Both of the independent variables were highly correlated. Separation from love objects in the homeland showed higher correlation with depressive experiences than the broken ideological commitment to return.