An Ecological Model of Mexican Immigration and Mental Health
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PDF (1.069Mb)Abstract
The literature on the relationship between cultural factors and mental health outcomes
for immigrant groups has been extensive (e.g., Berry, 1976; 1997; 2004; Sam & Berry,
2006). The complex nature of interacting factors in the immigration and migration processes,
however, have just begun to be explored within a broader ecological framework (Acevedo
Garcia et al., 2012; Coatsworth, Maldonado-Molina, Pantin, & Szzapocznik, 2005). In light
of this, scholars have called for ecological models that incorporate mental health related
factors (Coatsworth et al., 2005; Glick, 2010; Yakushko, Watson, & Thompson, 2008). This
study explored sociocultural influences as well as engagement with macro systems
influencing mental health symptoms.
An ecological framework was used to examine the relations among immigration
status vulnerability, deportation fear, U.S. acculturation, active coping, social justice
advocacy, and mental health symptoms of 214 Mexican and Mexican American adults in the
United States. The results showed deportation fear mediated the relationship between
immigration status vulnerability and anxiety and depression, such that the more fearful
individuals are for deportation, the more mental health problems they will experience. The
data did not support the hypothesis that endorsement of U.S. acculturation moderates the
relationship between immigration status vulnerability and deportation fear, or that social
justice advocacy moderates the relationship between deportation fear and mental health
symptoms of depression and anxiety.
These results support assessing the influence of immigration status vulnerability and
deportation fears related to mental health in research with immigrant groups (Massey &
Bartley, 2005; Sullivan & Remh, 2005). Findings indicate the importance of understanding
the distal system mechanism(s) by which mental health symptomatology may occur. In
practice, results of this study point to holistic assessment of distal variables that may have
proximal impacts on symptoms of depression and anxiety for Mexican Americans
(Bronfenbrenner, 2005). Limitations of this research study and for understanding cultural
influences on mental health for Mexicans and Mexican Americans are discussed.
Table of Contents
Literature review and purpose statement -- Manuscript -- Appendix A. Preliminary Analysis -- Appendix B. Immigration Status Vulnerability Measure -- Appendix C. Deportation Fear Measure -- Appendix D. U.S. Acculturation Scale Validation -- Appendix E. Social Justice Advocacy Scale Validation -- Appendix F. Active Coping Scale Validation -- Appendix G. Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale- 21 Validation -- Appendix H. Moderated Mediation Models with Alternative Moderator U.S. Language -- Appendix I. Moderated Mediation Models with Alternative Moderator Social Issues
and Advocacy Scale -- Appendix J. Moderated Mediation Models with DASS Outcome -- Appendix K. Measures Used -- Appendix L. Solicitation and Informed Consent Email -- Appendix M. Permission to Use Instruments
Degree
Ph.D.