The mental health and psychosocial adjustment of Cuban immigrants in south Florida

Abstract

Given documented variation in pre-migration and migration-related experiences, Cuban immigrants in the U.S. who arrived during or subsequent to 1980 may be disadvantaged in mental health and psychosocial adjustment relative to earlier arrivals. Using wave 1 of the Physical Challenge and Health study, we compare earlier and later arriving immigrants in levels of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem and test whether adversity and social support, acculturationrelated factors, or pre-migration conditions account for any differences observed among a sample of adults living in South Florida (N=191). Bivariate analyses reveal that later arrivals are relatively disadvantaged in anxiety and self-esteem and marginally so in depression. While later arrivals do not report more adversity in the U.S., they have lower levels of family support to cope with any adversity experienced. Later arrivals are also less likely to interview in English or to have a strong American identity, and they were more likely to have arrived as adults. Relative disadvantages in anxiety and self-esteem are best explained by indicators of acculturation and family support. Policies and programs that address acculturation difficulties and increase family support could improve the health and adjustment of these and similar immigrants.

Do post-migration perceptions of social mobility matter for Latino immigrant health?

“…In our sample, Cuban immigrants who arrived in the U.S. after the 1980s composed 61.81% of Cubans in the stable SSS category ( n = 34). Prior research indicates that the post-1980s cohort of Cuban immigrants was more likely to occupy positions of low SES, encounter hostile reception contexts, and have limited familial and social supports relative to earlier cohorts of Cuban immigrants (Cislo et al, 2010; Rumbaut, 2006). Thus, the effects associated with an accumulation of adverse pre-migration and post-migration psychosocial exposures and limited social resources might together increase risk for psychopathology.…”

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

“…32 In addition, some Latin American immigrants have faced distinct migration circumstances because of the political context in both their countries of origin and the United States. For example, early waves of Cuban migrants received refugee status and resettlement assistance, 18 whereas the majority of those fleeing civil wars in Central America were never granted refugee status, limiting their access to benefits. 30,33,34 For some Latino subgroups, such as Cubans and many Central and South Americans, unplanned or involuntary migration might refer more to political reasons for migration, or a combination of political and economic motivations, 18 whereas for other groups (e.g., Puerto Ricans or Mexicans), identifying migration as involuntary or unplanned might refer more to dire economic circumstances or family obligations that motivated migration.…”

“…For example, early waves of Cuban migrants received refugee status and resettlement assistance, 18 whereas the majority of those fleeing civil wars in Central America were never granted refugee status, limiting their access to benefits. 30,33,34 For some Latino subgroups, such as Cubans and many Central and South Americans, unplanned or involuntary migration might refer more to political reasons for migration, or a combination of political and economic motivations, 18 whereas for other groups (e.g., Puerto Ricans or Mexicans), identifying migration as involuntary or unplanned might refer more to dire economic circumstances or family obligations that motivated migration. 32 We therefore hypothesized that circumstances of migration would be more strongly associated with poor health outcomes for Cubans and many other Latinos, given that many of these groups were motivated to migrate, at least in part, by political circumstances such as civil war or political persecution.…”

“My Life was Filled with Constant Anxiety”: Anti-Immigrant Discrimination, Undocumented Status, and Their Mental Health Implications for Brazilian Immigrants

“…Research on social support theory has argued individuals with meaningful social relationships (e.g., relatives, friends) that provide psychological and other types of resources that tend to have better physical and mental health than individuals who do not (Cohen and Wills 1985;Leavy 1983;Kessler and McLeod 1985;Berkman et al 2000;Brummett et al 2001;Uchino 2009). Research conducted on Latino immigrants also supports this theory (Cislo et al 2010;Finch and Vega 2003). However, among this sample of Brazilian return migrants, their connections with other Brazilian immigrants in the United States did not always provide the positive social support that could ameliorate the stresses associated with being racialized undocumented immigrants in the United States.…”