Work and family divided across borders: the impact of parental migration on Mexican children in transnational families

Abstract

Using new data collected in high emigration communities within Mexico, we explore the impact of partial family migration on children left behind in Mexico. Multivariate results suggest that households where respondents have a spouse who was a caregiver and who migrated to the USA are more likely to have at least one child with academic, behavioral, and emotional problems than non-migrant households. This finding supports efforts to decrease the need for families to cross borders either by decreasing the economic necessities for migration or by designing immigration policies aimed at decreasing the separation of families across borders and increasing family support after a caregiver's departure to the USA. The end goal of these efforts and policies is to improve children's health and well-being in communities with high levels of migration. À partir de nouvelles données collectées au Mexique auprès de communautés résidant dans des zones où la migration est très forte, nous explorons l'impact de l'émigration partielle d'une famille aux Etats-Unis sur le bien-être des enfants demeurés au Mexique. Les résultats de modèles multivariés suggèrent que les foyers ayant des répondants avec un époux qui avait plusieurs tâches parentales avant sa migration aux Etats-Unis ont plus de chance d'avoir au moins un enfant avec des problèmes au niveau académique, comportemental et émotionnel que les foyers qui ne sont pas touchés pas la migration. Ces résultats appuient les mesures visant à diminuer les besoins des familles à traverser les frontières telles la diminution des mauvaises conditions économiques qui poussent à émigrer ainsi que l'augmentation du support apporté aux familles suite au départ pour les Etats-Unis d'un parent ou de toute autre personne qui assumait beaucoup de responsabilités parentales. L'objectif ultime pour tous ces efforts et ces politiques est l'amélioration de la santé et du bien-être des enfants vivant dans des communautés à forts courants migratoires.

The impact of migration on family left behind

“…Since men are the ones to migrate in most contexts, much of the literature has focused on the father's contributions to the family and connects the resulting loss when he becomes a migrant to the literature on father absence more broadly (Lahaie et al, 2009;Antman, 2011c). 2 Zoller Booth (1995) stresses the importance of a father's role as disciplinarian and figurehead when interpreting the detrimental effects of paternal labor migration on the school readiness of children in Swaziland.…”

The Impact of Parents Migration on the Well-Being of Children Left Behind Initial Evidence from Romania

“…Living in migrant families, where the main caregiver is abroad for working purposes, has a negative impact on the emotional well-being of children left behind. Most affected are those who must take care self of themselves following the migration of their parents (Lahaie et al, 2009). …”

The Impact of Remittances on Transnational Families

“…Migration is a complex and difficult phenomenon to study, as it may include a process of exit, entrance, and return, which may be repeated. The continuous coming and going of migrants in and out of Mexico has created a new phenomenon of transnationalism and transmigration (Lahaie, Hayes, Piper, & Haymann, 2009;Mahler, 2000). Associated with this history of transnationalism is a tradition of remitting money to family and friends that remain in Mexico.…”