This document provides a sociocultural assessment of Italian Canadians. It details that most Italian Canadians trace their heritage to immigrants after World War 2 who came for opportunities in Canada's booming economy. Today, over 1 million people in Canada are of full or partial Italian descent. The assessment describes Italian cultural beliefs, traditions, and practices around areas like family, food, religion, and health. For example, it notes Italians highly value family and food plays an important role in social and family life. The assessment provides context to understand the Italian Canadian experience and perspective on various topics.
2. anada has the sixth largest Italian population. The
history of Italian immigration dates back to late 1400s
when Giovanni Caboto (better known as John Cabot)
first landed on the coast of Newfoundland.
However, most Italian Canadians trace their heritage
back to the influx of immigrants after the Second World
War, when Italians left their war-impoverished country
for opportunities in a Canada, where a widespread
labour shortage caused by a booming economy after the
war made the country receptive to Italian immigration.
History of Italian Immigration in
Canada
3. • Number of Italian Canadians in Canada: 1.3 million
• With only Italian heritage: 727,000
• With partly Italian heritage: 545,000
• Number of Italian Canadians born in Canada: 904,000
• Number of Italian Canadians born in Italy who immigrated here: 315,455
• Number of immigrants who arrived in Canada before 1961: 47 %
• Number of immigrants who arrived between 1961 and 1970: 39 %
• Number of immigrants who arrived between 1971 and 1980: 10 %
• Number of immigrants who have arrived in Canada since 1981: 6.4 %
• People of Italian heritage in Vancouver: 69,000
• People of Italian heritage in Toronto: 429,380
• People of Italian heritage in Montreal: 225,000
Here are the numbers
4. Capital: Rome
Ethnic Make-up: Italian
(includes small clusters of
German-, French-, and Slovene-
Italians in the north and
Albanian-Italians and Greek-
Italians in the south)
Religions: predominately
Roman Catholic with mature
Protestant and Jewish
communities and a
growing Muslim immigrant
community
Government: Republic
Currency: Euro €
Language: Italian
Cultural Background
5. Interactions
Italians are passionate about self expression. They tend to be highly
expressive of joy, sadness and grief, both vocally and by overt body
gesture. Conversations are spirited, and they gesture frequently with
their hand to emphasize a point. A high level of physical contact is
considered both natural and normal. The Italian client will expect to be
listened to as an equal when discussing symptoms and treatment.
6. Lifestyle
Lifestyle risk factors are often present in Italians as a result
of low exercise patterns. Common problems include
overweight (women more than men) and smoking (men).
Italian culture places high value on food; Italy is renowed
for its cuisine, and meals are important and lengthy events
for many Italian families. Additionally, the Italian diet
typically consist a high proportion of fatty
foods(butter, cheese, cakes, meat, etc.). As a result, a
problem in the italian community is the presence of
overweight individuals.
7. Mental Health
Those with mental illness may be stigmatised. Because initially
they may be ashamed of their disabled child, and may not use
the services available, parents of children with disabilitie s, such
as cerebral palsy or mental retardation, may take time to come
to terms with the disability. Domestic violence occurs in the
Italian as in all communities, but it may be hidden for a long
period in order to maintain the family honour.
8. Utilization of
Health Services
Being in hospital may be traumatic because of the
separation from family and friends, particularly for an older
Italian person with difficulties communicating in English, or
limited medical knowledge. Hospital admission may be seen
as justified only for operations, or dramatic treatments or
investigations. Allied health services are often unfamiliar to
older Italians, so their purpose needs to be clearly
explained.
9. Health Beliefs
and Practices
Italian’s traditional health beliefs includes belief that the cause of illness is
a result of contagion or contamination caused by heredity related to
supernatural or human causes, related to wind currents that bear
diseases, or psychosomatic causes.
It is important to make distinction between fresh air and drafts. Fresh air is
considered healthy and vital for health maintenance while drafts on the
other hand, are a cause of illness. Ventilation on patient’s room and home
is valued, but avoidance of drafts is essential.
Supernatural causes of illness include the “evil eye” and curses (castiga).
The severity of the illness is related to supernatural causes with causes
resulting in most serious or even fatal medical problems. Curses are caused
by God or sent by evil person or seen as punishment for sins or other bad
behavior.
10. Health Beliefs
and Practices (cont’d)
Emotions need to be released, which is one of the explanation
for the animation associated with Italian culture. Keeping
emotions bottled up is unhealthy , and if an outlet for the
release is not found , serious consequence will result.
11. Health Beliefs
and Practices (cont’d)
In the past, tonic injections were sometimes given
intramuscularly by lay people in Italy. Intramuscular
medicine is still seen as superior to oral medication
in many cases. Traditional Italian health concepts
derived from humoral medicine. However, except for
the older Italian people, community attitudes and
knowledge about health issues are not greatly different
from the mainstream.
12. Italians do not always use the services for the elderly, and there
are low nursing home admission rates. Italians often expect to
be cared for by their children in their old age. The care for the
elderly usually falls on the women of the family. Older Italians
may not speak English, or find it harder to remember the new
language as they get older. They may be frustrated and isolated
by the younger generation’s inability to speak Italian. Family
members who act as interpreters may not pass on all the
information to the elderly, especially if bad news is conveyed. In
addition, older Italians are unlikely to be able to access
information themselves, even if presented in Italian, as they may
have had little education or have poor eyesight for reading.
Health Care of the Aged
13. Women’s Health
Awareness of women’s health issues among older Italian
migrant women is poor, with low rates of women having a
Pap test, breast examination or a mammogram, or even
having heard of these screening measures. They may only
seek services for serious illness, not for screening. Younger
women have more knowledge of these issues and use
mainstream health services.
Girls used to be closely chaperoned once they reached
puberty. However, in recent decades, young people have
become more independent, moving away from the family
home before marriage.
14. Young women
There is social/peer pressure from outside
the Italian community for young women to
be slim. However, there is pressure within
Italian families to eat as part of social
occasions, and not eating can be seen as
rejection of the Italian culture. The young
Italian woman gains no support for dieting,
as a bit of extra weight is seen as a sign of
good health. Meals and weight can become
a cause of tension in the family.
15. Older women
Menopause may be perceived as a time
when body functioning slows, causing
vulnerability to a range of diseases
including cancer. Often minor ailments are
attributed to the effects of the menopause.
16. BELIEFS
The evil eye is a look that is believed to be able to cause injury or bad
luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or
dislike. The term also refers to the power attributed to certain persons
of inflicting injury or bad luck by such an envious or ill-wishing look. The
evil eye is usually given to others who remain unaware. Babies are the
most vulnerable to the curse. For this reason, Italian mothers are
always vigilant when someone pays their baby a compliment. They will
make the fig sign to ward off the evil eye. If you want to compliment a
baby, add the words “sensa malocchio” or“without the evil eye”.
Another gesture to remedy the evil eye is to make the sign of the
horns. This gesture transfers the bad luck to someone else.
17. The numbers 13 and 17 for the Italians are unlucky. To dream
about the number 29 is considered lucky.
Bread is most revered by the Italians for it symbolizes the
Body of Christ. However old and moldy the bread is they kiss it
before throwing it.
Regarding colors, purple and black signifies death and
misfortune. This colors are only worn when mourning.
To see a nun is bad luck. To counter the bad luck Italians
touches iron immediately. For this purpose they carry a nail in
their pocket or purse.
18. Men must never give their wives or girlfriends a gift of
perfume. If they do, they risk attracting a more
handsome rival who will steal their beloved away forever.
To avoid bad luck, Italian gypsies never steal
pearls, coral, or silver.
19. Family
Family provides strength, helps with coping with
stresses, and provides sense of continuity. The man is the
head of the household and female is considered to provide
the heart of the family.
Italian families maintain strong bond over generations.
Children maintain their strong relationship with their parents.
Their relationship display strong reciprocal support and
exchanges including child care, care of the elderly and ill, help
with economic troubles, loans and advice. Decisions are often
discussed amongst family. The parents are often sought for
their advise with important decisions throughout life including
decisions about healthcare .
20. Faith and Spirituality
Most Italians are devout Christians. The two major practices are
honoring the Saints’ Days throughout “feste” (feast) and the
celebrations of sacraments especially marriage through banquets.
In daily life, the influence of Catholisism can be seen in a strong
family values. The majority of Italians are opposed to
divorce, abortion and artificial contraception.
A priest is also involved with the spiritual aspect of caring for a
patient so it is imperative to offer their services if needs be.
So as nurses when we deal with patients with Italian heritage, it
important to respect their decision with their health care and
don’t push them to make a decision that will contradict with their
belief.
21. Food
Food is essential part of Italian life. The well known Italian
dishes are pasta and pizza.
Breakfast is around 7am, lunch is around 1pm, and dinner is
served late at around 8 to 9 pm.
A large family meal is customary in Italian households. The
meals are relaxed affairs with several courses and often
accompanied by wine.
22. Sports
Sports play an important part of daily life. Some of the most
popular Italian sports include soccer, cycling, Formula One
racing, and basketball.
23. References:
• Berrenson, L.D. Cultural Competencies for Nurses Impact on
Health and Illness
• Italian community has deep roots in Canada
http://canadianimmigrant.ca/community/italian-community-has-deep-
roots-in-canada
• Italy - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/italy-
country-profile.html
• Italians
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/italians
• How to avoid getting ‘hit by air’ in Italy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15987082
• Favor, L.J. (2004) Italy A Primary Source Cultural Guide