This study aims to investigate the perceptions of health, disease and pain issues among Greek immigrant, living in Germany, as they were formed through their previous experiences, their immigration routes and their experiences in a new sociocultural environment, while taking under consideration their varying cultural backgrounds.

This research was based on the personal interpretations of ten Greek immigrant (6 women and 4 men). As to methodology, qualitative research was employed. The methodological tools used for the collection of the material were semi-structured interviews (face to face), participant observation and a field diary. Finally, the method of analysis used for the empirical material was content thematic analysis.

All participants experienced immigration as an especially stressful period of their lives that changed their state of health (these changes extend from physical complaints to manifestation of depression). Most person describe life in Germany as difficult due to various problems (loss of relatives and friends’ social networks, poor language knowledge, isolation, etc.). However, the public health system's organization (regardless any flaws), which ensures their access to health services, positively contributed in changing their attitudes regarding the issues under question. Lastly, the reference to psycho-traumatic situations, transitional life phases, as well as to stimuli in the difficult everyday life feed person's meaning-makings about pain.

The research's results showed that health and disease are not only biologically determined phenomena. They also are socially determined situations, given that they are not only related to changes in the individual's psychology but are influenced by the broader sociocultural environment in which the individual lives and works.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.