Lifetime prevalence of and risk factors for psychiatric disorders among Mexican migrant farmworkers in California

Abstract

A B S T R A C TObjectives. In this study, the prevalence of and risk factors for 12 psychiatric disorders were examined by sex and ethnicity (Indian vs nonIndian) among Mexican migrant farmworkers working in Fresno County, California.Methods. Subjects aged 18 through 59 years were selected under a cluster sampling design (n = 1001). A modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used for case ascertainment. The effects of sociodemographic and acculturation factors on lifetime psychiatric disorders were tested.Results. Lifetime rates of any psychiatric disorder were as follows: men, 26.7% (SE = 1.9); women, 16.8% (SE = 1.7); Indians, 26.0% (SE = 4.5); non-Indians, 20.1% (SE = 1.3). Total lifetime rates were as follows: affective disorders, 5.7%; anxiety disorders, 12.5%; any substance abuse or dependence, 8.7%; antisocial personality, 0.2%. Lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder was lower for migrants than for Mexican Americans and for the US population as a whole. High acculturation and primary US residence increased the likelihood of lifetime psychiatric disorders.Conclusions. The results underscore the risk posed by cultural adjustment problems, the potential for progressive deterioration of this population's mental health, and the need for culturally appropriate mental health services. (Am

Alcohol Use Behaviors Among Indigenous Migrants: A Transnational Study on Communities of Origin and Destination

“…Previous studies with Mexican migrants in the US have found an association between one’s ability to speak English (typically used as a proxy for acculturation) with alcohol and drug use patterns [47–49]. Though ability to speak English was positively associated with at-risk drinking in univariate analyses, this relationship was not significant after adjusting for other factors.…”

Interpersonal Abuse and Depression Among Mexican Immigrant Women with Type 2 Diabetes

“…Mental distress among Mexican immigrant women like María often come to a front in later age, which has been attributed to social support, worsening physical health, and other factors related to depression (Black 1999; Gerst, Al-Ghatrif et al 2010). Epidemiologists have demonstrated that Mexican-Americans report higher rates of mental distress in the United States compared to other ethnic groups, and that U.S.-born Mexican-Americans report higher rates of psychiatric distress compared to Mexican immigrants (Burnam, Hough et al 1987; Alderete, Vega et al 2000; Alderete, Vega et al 2000; Escobar, Hoyos Nervi et al 2000; Allegria, Mulvaney-Day et al 2007; Allegria, Canino et al 2008). Some have argued that this disproportionate burden of mental distress among people of Mexican descent may be attributed to poor access to mental health care and resultant chronicity of mental distress (Castañeda 2010; Gonzalez, Tarraf et al 2010).…”

Sleep Quality among Hispanics of Mexican Descent and Non-Hispanic Whites: Results from the Sleep Health and Knowledge in US Hispanics Study

“…Results consistent with reports from Cantero [67] and Ebin [68] suggesting that younger Latinos may be more susceptible to negative health outcomes of acculturation including poor sleep quality. Potential causes for acculturation-associated poor sleep quality include reduced hours of sleep, irregular sleep schedules, increased use of alcohol, tobacco, and stimulants, and the social stress needed to keep up with the busy American lifestyle [55,65,[71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83].…”