Migration Circumstances, Psychological Distress, and Self-Rated Physical Health for Latino Immigrants in the United States

Abstract

Objectives We determined the impact of premigration circumstances on postmigration psychological distress and self-rated physical health among Latino immigrants. Methods We estimated ordinary least squares and logistic regression models for Latino immigrants in the 2002/2003 National Latino and Asian American Study (n|=|1603). Results Mean psychological distress scores (range|=|10–50) were 14.8 for women and 12.7 for men; 35% of women and 27% of men reported fair or poor physical health. A third of the sample reported having to migrate; up to 46% reported unplanned migration. In multivariate analyses, immigration-related stress was significantly associated with psychological distress, but not with self-rated health, for both Latino men and women. Having to migrate was associated with increased psychological distress for Puerto Rican and Cuban women respondents and with poorer physical health for Puerto Rican migrant men. Unplanned migration was significantly associated with poorer physical health for all Latina women respondents. Conclusions The context of both pre- and postmigration has an impact on immigrant health. Those involved in public health research, policy, and practice should consider variation in immigrant health by migration circumstances, including the context of exit and other immigration-related stressors.

Duration of U.S. stay and body mass index among Latino and Asian immigrants: A test of theoretical pathways

“…Acculturative stressors are associated with poorer health (Berry, 2006;Torres & Wallace, 2013). The physical impact of stressors may reflect coping patterns, the physiological accumulation of psychosocial stressors (i.e., 'wear and tear' on the body), or the indirect consequences of regularly confronting barriers to health-promoting factors, such as appropriate employment or adequate medical care (Williams et al, 2010).…”

“…This latter finding is especially surprising, given existing research that suggests that acculturative stress and stressors are associated with worse health outcomes (Finch et al, 2001;Torres & Wallace, 2013). Many existing studies, however, have examined stress as opposed to stressors.…”

The Influence of Migration on Secular Trends in Sex Ratios at Birth in Cuba in the Past Fifty Years

“…Mass migrations are known to stress populations. More specifically, migration-related stress has been shown to be associated with psychological distress for both Latino men and women, including Cubans, along with poorer physical health for Latina women (32). This is unsurprising when refugees are faced with the prospect of a perilous sea voyage across a substantial stretch of ocean in a fragile and ill-equipped craft, with a known high risk of failure of passage or interdiction by the US coastguard or their Cuban guardafronteras equivalents (29).…”

Factors promoting resilience among Mexican immigrant women in the United States: Applying a positive deviance approach

“…Theoretically, a major drawback in these studies is the excessive focus on culture as if were the most important determinant of health, without consideration of other contextual social and historical processes affecting individuals (Abraído-Lanza, Armbrister, Flórez & Aguirre, 2006;Torres & Wallace, 2013;Viruell-Fuentes, Miranda & Abdulrahim, 2012).…”

“…Recent research has now begun to address the theoretical limitations of conflating culture with adverse outcomes in mental health (Torres & Wallace, 2013;ViruellFuentes et al, 2012). Nonetheless, studies still implicitly neglect or minimize the role of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors or any other influence of the immigrants that contribute to their positive health upon arrival and over the long term.…”