Publication year: 2011
Source: Social Science & Medicine, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 29 July 2011
India J., Ornelas , Krista M., Perreira
Nearly one out of every four children in the US is a child of immigrants. Yet few studies have assessed how factors at various stages of migration contribute to the development of health problems in immigrant populations. Most focus only on post-migration factors influencing health. Using data from the Latino Adolescent Migration, Health, and Adaptation Project, this study assessed the extent to which pre-migration (e.g., major life events, high poverty), migration (e.g., unsafe and stressful migration experiences), post-migration (e.g., discrimination, neighborhood factors, family reunification, linguistic isolation), and social support factors contributed to depressive symptoms among a sample of Latino immigrant…
Highlights: ► Few studies have assessed how factors at various stages of migration contribute to the development of health problems in immigrant populations. ► We demonstrate how factors prior to, during, and after migration contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. ► High poverty levels prior to migration strongly contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. ► Stress and trauma during migration and discrimination upon settlement further contribute to depressive symptoms. ► Family reunification, social support, and familism reduce the likelihood of depressive symptoms.