The Work, Economic, and Remittance Stress and Distress of the COVID-19 Pandemic Containment Policies: The Case of Venezuelan Migrants in Argentina and Chile

Abstract

According to the social stress process model, global crises are macro-level stressors that generate physiological stress and psychological distress. However, existing research has not identified immigrants’ COVID-19 containment policy stressors or examined the social stress of sending remittances amid crises. Drawing on in-depth longitudinal interviews with 46 Venezuelan immigrants—half before and half during the pandemic—in Chile and Argentina, we identified the COVID-19 containment policies’ stressors. We focused on Venezuelan immigrants because they constitute one of the largest internationally displaced populations, with most migrating within South America. We found that the governmental COVID-19 containment measures in both countries generated four stressors: employment loss, income loss, devaluation of employment status, and inability to send needed remittances. Moreover, sending remittances helped some migrants cope with concerns about loved ones in Venezuela. However, sending remittances became a social stressor when immigrants struggled to simultaneously sustain their livelihoods and send financial support to relatives experiencing hardships in Venezuela. For some immigrants, these adversities generated other stressors (e.g., housing instability) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Broadly, for immigrants, the stressors of global crises transcend international borders and generate high stress, which strains their psychological well-being.

Academic Coverage of Social Stressors Experienced by Disabled People: A Scoping Review

“…Many studies have looked at the linkage between stress and wellbeing [77][78][79][80], and stress has been identified as decreasing well-being [81][82][83][84]. Numerous studies used social stress and well-being indices [85,86].…”

Proteger la salud mental de la población migrante internacional en Chile

“…Señor editor: La salud mental de la población migrante internacional debe constituir una prioridad global, considerando que diversos reportes [1][2][3][4] anuncian que la vulneración de derechos que muchas personas enfrentan durante el proceso migratorio, conlleva factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de sintomatología de salud mental y diagnósticos relacionados. Ello, sumado a la progresiva precarización de los flujos migratorios hacia Chile, especialmente durante la pandemia por COVID-19, nos obliga a abordar y proteger la salud mental de la población migrante en el país [5][6][7] .…”