Journal of Rural Community Psychology
Migrant agricultural laborers -- United States, Migrant agricultural laborers -- United States -- Social conditions
Mexican-origin migrant farmworkers using: (a) lifetime prevalence of culture-bound syndromes, (b) self-rated emotional/mental health, (c) depression measured by PHQ-9, (d) stress level. Demographic and psychosocial variables were examined by ethnicity and gender using Chi square and independent t-tests. Logistic and linear regression models were constructed for mental health variables. Indigenous participants reported significantly higher stress compared to mestizos, and indigenous women reported significantly higher stress compared to all groups. Prevalence of culture-bound syndromes and mean PHQ-9 severity score was highest for indigenous females. Mean self-rated emotional/mental health was lowest among indigenous females. Controlling for main effects and other interactions, (a) indigenous females were significantly more likely to report culture-bound syndromes, and reported significantly higher levels of stress, (b) more Spanish literate indigenous respondents were less likely to report culture-bound syndromes, and more educated indigenous respondents were less likely to have a depressive syndrome. Indigenous participants living in U.S. for seven years or more: (a) were significantly less likely to report poorer emotional/mental health, and (b) reported significantly lower stress. Adult education and literacy programs may be especially effective emotional/mental health intervention for newly arrived indigenous Mexican-origin migrants.
Donlan, William and Lee, Junghee, "Indigenous and Mestizo Mexican Migrant Farmworkers: A Comparative Mental Health Analysis" (2010). Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations. 83.