Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 30, Issue 5, 2017, Pages 453-462

“One Scar Too Many:” The Associations Between Traumatic Events and Psychological Distress Among Undocumented Mexican Immigrants (Article)

Garcini L.M.* , Peña J.M. , Gutierrez A.P. , Fagundes C.P. , Lemus H. , Lindsay S. , Klonoff E.A.
  • a San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • c San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
  • e Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • f Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • g San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Undocumented immigration often presents with multiple stressors and contextual challenges, which may diminish mental health. This study is the first to provide population-based estimates for the prevalence of traumatic events and its association to clinically significant psychological distress among undocumented Mexican immigrants in the United States. This cross-sectional study used respondent-driven sampling to obtain and analyze data from clinical interviews with 248 undocumented Mexican immigrants residing in high-risk neighborhoods near the California-Mexico border. Overall, 82.7% of participants reported a history of traumatic events, with 47.0% of these meeting the criteria for clinically significant psychological distress. After controlling for relevant covariates, having experienced material deprivation, odds ratio (OR) = 2.26, 95% CI [1.18, 4.31], p =.013, and bodily injury, OR = 2.96, 95% CI [1.50, 5.83], p =.002, and not having a history of deportation, OR = 0.36, 95% CI [0.17, 0.79], p =.011, were associated with clinically significant psychological distress. These results support the need to revisit health and immigration policies and to devise solutions grounded in empirical evidence aimed at preventing the negative effects of trauma and psychological distress in this population. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

complication human epidemiology middle aged statistics and numerical data Stress, Psychological mental stress ethnology Mexico Undocumented Immigrants Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant undocumented immigrant psychology Humans California male Emigrants and Immigrants female psychological rating scale Psychiatric Status Rating Scales questionnaire legislation and jurisprudence adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Mexican Americans Mexican American
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85032388329&doi=10.1002%2fjts.22216&partnerID=40&md5=3c4bc22223f37e43a1ac92170a8ba9a6
DOI: 10.1002/jts.22216
ISSN: 08949867
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English