The Lancet Psychiatry
Volume 3, Issue 9, 2016, Pages 860-870

Hispanic immigrants in the USA: social and mental health perspectives (Review)

Alarcón R.D. , Parekh A. , Wainberg M.L. , Duarte C.S. , Araya R. , Oquendo M.A.*
  • a Mayo Medicine School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
  • b Dasra, Mumbai, India
  • c New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • d New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • e London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • f Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Hispanic immigration in the USA and its effect on many areas of US society are of great relevance to health care, public health, mental health, and medical and social sciences. In this report, we review and discuss pertinent literature on causes, procedures, and eventual outcomes of Hispanic migration waves throughout the last four decades. Hispanic immigrants do not constitute a monolithic group, despite the clear predominance of Mexican and Mexican-American segments. Common features of Hispanic immigrants include a younger average age, higher presence of married households, and lower educational levels than the overall US population. Differences within the Hispanic immigrant population are present in naturalisation figures, English language fluency, occupational and income status, health insurance coverage, and sense of accomplishment in the host society. We examine most of these aspects in the context of the so-called Hispanic paradox, presented as both a cause and a result of a heavily discussed acculturative process. We investigate prevalence and other data on depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and psychotic syndromes, with emphasis on the need to do further neurobiological, epigenetic, and sociocultural research in the Hispanic population. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant depression anxiety disorder health insurance mental health human epidemiology immigration psychosis statistics and numerical data medical society economic aspect social aspect priority journal substance abuse ethnology Hispanic Americans Mental Disorders mental disease United States Humans migrant family Hispanic psychology Emigrants and Immigrants Socioeconomic Factors Review socioeconomics cultural factor prevalence politics alcohol use disorder natural disaster
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84983273871&doi=10.1016%2fS2215-0366%2816%2930101-8&partnerID=40&md5=d9897af6de75ba40862a15fa8fd6f12a
DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30101-8
ISSN: 22150366
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English