Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1193-1200

Depression Among Mexican Men on the Migration Frontier: The Role of Family Separation and Other Structural and Situational Stressors (Article)

Letiecq B.L.* , Grzywacz J.G. , Gray K.M. , Eudave Y.M.
  • a College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University, 1101 Thompson Hall, MSN 4C2, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States
  • b Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, OK, United States
  • c Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59715, United States
  • d Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59715, United States

Abstract

This study documents the mental health of Mexican migrant men in a new non-traditional settlement in the Rocky Mountain West and examines the role of family separation and other structural and situational stressors in relation to depressive symptoms. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted interviewer-assisted surveys with 134 Mexican migrant men. Findings revealed that, overall, 46 % of participants reported depressive symptoms in the range for clinical concern and that single and married men who were separated from their families were particularly vulnerable to poor mental health. Best predictors of depression included both structural stressors (family separation, sending remittances to Mexico) and situational stressors (fearfulness, worry about police confrontation, treatment by non-Latinos, and lack of support). These findings highlight the need for complex and contextually-sensitive mental health interventions designed to protect this vulnerable population on the migration frontier and to promote their mental health. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Mental health Family separation New settlements Mexican immigrant men

Index Keywords

depression educational status human middle aged Stress, Psychological mental stress ethnology Mexico Young Adult Humans family psychology Adolescent male risk factor Risk Factors adult age Age Factors Montana
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84911876831&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9918-1&partnerID=40&md5=b73a01d40701ccae016dddd477d280d5
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9918-1
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English