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The Border Community and Immigration Stress Scale: A Preliminary Examination of a Community Responsive Measure in Two Southwest Samples

Abstract  

Understanding contemporary socio-cultural stressors may assist educational, clinical and policy-level health promotion efforts.
This study presents descriptive findings on a new measure, the border community and immigration stress scale. The data were
from two community surveys as part of community based participatory projects conducted in the Southwestern US border region.
This scale includes stressful experiences reflected in extant measures, with new items reflecting heightened local migration
pressures and health care barriers. Stressors representing each main domain, including novel ones, were reported with frequency
and at high intensity in the predominantly Mexican-descent samples. Total stress was also significantly associated with mental
and physical health indicators. The study suggests particularly high health burdens tied to the experience of stressors in
the US border region. Further, many of the stressors are also likely relevant for other communities within developed nations
also experiencing high levels of migration.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Category Original Paper
  • Pages 1-10
  • DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9600-z
  • Authors
    • Scott C. Carvajal, Department of Health Behavior Health Promotion, Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Drachman Hall A254, P.O. Box 245209, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
    • Cecilia Rosales, Department of Health Behavior Health Promotion, Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Drachman Hall A254, P.O. Box 245209, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
    • Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith, Department of Mexican-American Studies, University of Arizona, Cesar Chavez Bldg. 23, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
    • Samantha Sabo, Department of Health Behavior Health Promotion, Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Drachman Hall A254, P.O. Box 245209, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
    • Maia Ingram, Department of Health Behavior Health Promotion, Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Drachman Hall A254, P.O. Box 245209, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
    • Debra Jean McClelland, Department of Health Behavior Health Promotion, Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Drachman Hall A254, P.O. Box 245209, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
    • Floribella Redondo, Campesinos Sin Fronteras, 725 E Main Street, Suite 11, Somerton, AZ 85340, USA
    • Emma Torres, Campesinos Sin Fronteras, 725 E Main Street, Suite 11, Somerton, AZ 85340, USA
    • Andrea J. Romero, Department of Mexican-American Studies, University of Arizona, Cesar Chavez Bldg. 23, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
    • Anna Ochoa O’Leary, Department of Mexican-American Studies, University of Arizona, Cesar Chavez Bldg. 23, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
    • Zoila Sanchez, Department of Health Behavior Health Promotion, Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Drachman Hall A254, P.O. Box 245209, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
    • Jill Guernsey de Zapien, Department of Health Behavior Health Promotion, Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Drachman Hall A254, P.O. Box 245209, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA