Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 340-347

Perceived discrimination and religiosity as potential mediating factors between migration and depressive symptoms: A transnational study of an indigenous Mayan population (Article)

Salgado H. , Haviland I. , Hernandez M. , Lozano D. , Osoria R. , Keyes D. , Kang E. , Zúñiga M.L.*
  • a Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Global Health), San Diego State/University of California, San Diego, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182-4162, United States
  • b Mexican Migration Field Research Program, University of California, San Diego, Mail Code 0548, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093-0548, United States
  • c Mexican Migration Field Research Program, University of California, San Diego, Mail Code 0548, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093-0548, United States
  • d Mexican Migration Field Research Program, University of California, San Diego, Mail Code 0548, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093-0548, United States
  • e Mexican Migration Field Research Program, University of California, San Diego, Mail Code 0548, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093-0548, United States
  • f Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, Mail Code 0532, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093-0532, United States
  • g Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Global Health), San Diego State/University of California, San Diego, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182-4162, United States
  • h School of Social Work, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4119, United States

Abstract

Evidence suggests that in the US perceived discrimination among migrants of Mexican origin is associated with depressive symptoms. Factors that confer resilience, such as religiosity, could serve as a mediating factor in the context of migration stressors. We hypothesized that migration is associated with higher depressive symptoms and that discrimination and religiosity would mediate this relationship in a binational (US and Mexican) sample of indigenous Mexican migrants. We applied path analysis modeling to test our hypotheses with a sample of 650 individuals (n = 583 in Mexico; n = 67 in US). Results indicated that migration experience and current US residence were associated with perceived discrimination, which in turn were associated with a higher risk for depressive symptoms. Among women not living in the US, religiosity was associated with lower perceived discrimination. Discrimination is pervasive among male and female transnational and domestic migrants and religiosity may serve as a protective factor against discrimination for some women.

Author Keywords

Migration Social support Mental health discrimination Maya religiosity

Index Keywords

perception depression regression analysis human risk assessment middle aged population group statistics and numerical data Population Groups comparative study Aged ethnology Mexico religion Cross-Sectional Studies interview United States Young Adult psychology cross-sectional study Humans racism Cross-Cultural Comparison Adolescent chi square distribution Interviews as Topic California male Chi-Square Distribution Socioeconomic Factors female Multivariate Analysis socioeconomics cultural factor Mexican American adult migration Social Perception Transients and Migrants Mexican Americans
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904720853&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9944-z&partnerID=40&md5=91753e7fc76521b62faf59de2f5ab88c
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9944-z
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English