Abstract
Introduction
Migration-related experiences can increase Latinas’ risk of perinatal depression and anxiety. Few studies have investigated these associations among Latinas due to a lack of survey instruments explicitly assessing migration experiences. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the Migration Experiences Survey (MES), a newly-developed measure of migration and deportation fears and explored associations between those experiences and mental health in a sample of immigrant Latinas in the perinatal period.
Methods
This cross-sectional study recruited women from community health clinics in Chapel Hill, NC between July 2013 and 2014. Twenty-five immigrant women were enrolled in the study during their third trimester of pregnancy. Women were interviewed in English or Spanish during pregnancy and at 8 weeks postpartum. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to determine anxiety symptoms. The MES was administered at 8 weeks postpartum. Nonparametric tests were conducted to determine associations between deportation fears and maternal mood.
Results
Results show that the MES is acceptable for collecting data on migration experiences and assessing deportation fears among immigrant Latinas, regardless of depressive or anxiety symptoms. More than 40% had migration safety concerns and fears of deportation. Self or family-related fears of deportation were significantly associated with prenatal state anxiety and trait anxiety (p < .05). No significant associations between deportation fears and depressive symptoms were observed.
Discussion
The MES is a useful tool for gathering information about migration experiences associated with perinatal anxiety.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvarado, R., Jadresic, E., Guajardo, V., & Rojas, G. (2015). First validation of a Spanish-translated version of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) for use in pregnant women: A Chilean study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 18(4), 607–612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0466-z.
Ashley, J. M., Harper, B. D., Arms-Chavez, C. J., & LoBello, S. G. (2016). Estimated prevalence of antenatal depression in the US population. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 19(2), 395–400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0593-1.
Ayón, C. (2017). “Vivimos en jaula de oro”: The impact of state-level legislation on immigrant Latino families. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 16(4), 351–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2017.1306151.
Barnes, L. L. B., Harp, D., & Jung, W. S. (2002). Reliability generalization of scores on the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62(4), 603–618. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316402128775049.
Breslau, J., Borges, G., Tancredi, D., Saito, N., Kravitz, R., Hinton, L., et al. (2011). Migration from Mexico to the United States and subsequent risk for depressive and anxiety disorders: A cross-national study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(4), 428–433. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.21.
Cox, J. L., Chapman, G., Murray, D., & Jones, P. (1996). Validation of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) in non-postnatal women. Journal of Affective Disorders, 39(3), 185–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(96)00008-0.
Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 150(6), 782–786. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.150.6.782.
Crocker, R. (2015). Emotional testimonies: An ethnographic study of emotional suffering related to migration from Mexico to Arizona. Frontiers in Public Health, 3, 177. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2015.00177.
Dennis, C. L., Coghlan, M., & Vigod, S. (2013). Can we identify mothers at-risk for postpartum anxiety in the immediate postpartum period using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory? Journal of Affective Disorders, 150(3), 1217–1220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.049.
Donato, K. M., & Patterson, E. (2004). Women and men on the move: Undocumented border crossing. In J. Durand & D. S. Massey (Eds.), Crossing the border: Research from the Mexican migration project (pp. 111–130). New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Falah-Hassani, K., Shiri, R., & Dennis, C. L. (2017). The prevalence of antenatal and postnatal co-morbid anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 47(12), 2041–2053. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291717000617.
Field, T. (2018). Postnatal anxiety prevalence, predictors and effects on development: A narrative review. Infant Behavior and Development, 51, 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2018.02.005.
Garcia-Esteve, L., Ascaso, C., Ojuel, J., & Navarro, P. (2003). Validation of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) in Spanish mothers. Journal of Affective Disorders, 75(1), 71–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(02)00020-4.
Garcini, L. M., Peña, J. M., Galvan, T., Fagundes, C. P., Malcarne, V., & Klonoff, E. A. (2017). Mental disorders among undocumented Mexican immigrants in high-risk neighborhoods: Prevalence, comorbidity, and vulnerabilities. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(10), 927–936. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000237.
Guillen-Riquelme, A., & Buela-Casal, G. (2014). “Metaanálisis de comparación de grupos y metaanálisis de generalización de la fiabilidad del cuestionario state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI)” [Meta-analysis of group comparison and meta-analysis of reliability generalization of the state-trait anxiety inventory questionnaire (STAI)]. Revista Española de Salud Publica, 88(1), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.4321/S1135-57272014000100007.
Gulbas, L. E., Zayas, L. H., Yoon, H., Szlyk, H., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., & Natera, G. (2016). Deportation experiences and depression among US citizen-children with undocumented Mexican parents. Child: Care, Health and Development, 42(2), 220–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12307.
Hacker, K., Chu, J., Leung, C., Marra, R., Pirie, A., Brahimi, M.,…, Marlin, R.P. (2011). The impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigrant health: Perceptions of immigrants in Everett, Massachusetts, USA. Social Science & Medicine, 73(4), 586–594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.06.007.
Hainmueller, J., Lawrence, D., Martén, L., Black, B., Figueroa, L., Hotard, M.,…, Laitin, D. D. (2017). Protecting unauthorized immigrant mothers improves their children’s mental health. Science, 357(6355), 1041–1044. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan5893.
Howell, E. A., Balbierz, A., Wang, J., Parides, M., Zlotnick, C., & Leventhal, H. (2012). Reducing postpartum depressive symptoms among Black and Latina mothers: A randomized controlled trial. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 119(5), 942–949. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e318250ba48.
IBM Corp. (2015). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (Version 23). [Computer software]. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.
Joseph, T. D. (2011). “My life was filled with constant anxiety”: Anti-immigrant discrimination, undocumented status, and their mental health implications for Brazilian immigrants. Race and Social Problems, 3(3), 170–181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-011-9054-2.
Julian, L. J. (2011). Measures of anxiety: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A). Arthritis Care & Research, 63(S11), S467–S472. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.20561.
Kaltman, S., Green, B. L., Mete, M., Shara, N., & Miranda, J. (2010). Trauma, depression, and comorbid PTSD/depression in a community sample of Latina immigrants. Psychological Trauma, 2(1), 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018952.
Kaltman, S., Hurtado de Mendoza, A., Gonzales, F. A., Serrano, A., & Guarnaccia, P. J. (2011). Contextualizing the trauma experience of women immigrants from Central America, South America, and Mexico. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(6), 635–642. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20698.
Ko, J. Y., Rockhill, K. M., Tong, V. T., Morrow, B., & Farr, S. L. (2017). Trends in postpartum depressive symptoms - 27 states, 2004, 2008, and 2012. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 66(6), 153–158. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6606a1.
Kozinszky, Z., & Dudas, R. B. (2015). Validation studies of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale for the antenatal period. Journal of Affective Disorders, 176, 95–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.01.044.
Lara-Cinisomo, S., Girdler, S. S., Grewen, K., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2016a). A biopsychosocial conceptual framework of postpartum depression risk in immigrant and U.S.-born Latina mothers in the United States. Women’s Health Issues, 26(3), 336–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2016.02.006.
Lara-Cinisomo, S., Grewen, K. M., Girdler, S. S., Wood, J., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2017a). Perinatal depression, adverse life events, and hypothalamic–adrenal–pituitary axis response to cold pressor stress in Latinas: An exploratory study. Women’s Health Issues, 27(6), 673–682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2017.06.004.
Lara-Cinisomo, S., McKenney, K., Di Florio, A., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2017b). Associations between postpartum depression, breastfeeding, and oxytocin levels in Latina mothers. Breastfeeding Medicine, 12(7), 436–442.
Lara-Cinisomo, S., Plott, J., Grewen, K., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2016b). The feasibility of recruiting and retaining perinatal Latinas in a biomedical study exploring neuroendocrine function and postpartum depression. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0391-5.
Leach, L. S., Poyser, C., & Fairweather-Schmidt, K. (2017). Maternal perinatal anxiety: A review of prevalence and correlates. Clinical Psychologist, 21(1), 4–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12058.
Leserman, J., Li, Z., Drossman, D. A., Toomey, T. C., Nachman, G., & Glogau, L. (1997). Impact of sexual and physical abuse dimensions on health status: Development of an abuse severity measure. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59(2), 152–160. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199703000-00007.
Lopez, A., & Boie, I. (2012). Voices: Exploring the experiences of non-mental health professionals working with Mexican immigrants affected by deportation. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 4(1), 40–52.
Lucero, N. B., Beckstrand, R. L., Callister, L. C., & Sanchez Birkhead, A. C. (2012). Prevalence of postpartum depression among Hispanic immigrant women. Journal of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 24(12), 726–734. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2012.00744.x.
Meades, R., & Ayers, S. (2011). Anxiety measures validated in perinatal populations: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 133(1–2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.10.009.
National Research Council. (2013). Options for estimating illegal entries at the US-Mexico border. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Potochnick, S. R., & Perreira, K. M. (2010). Depression and anxiety among first-generation immigrant Latino youth: Key correlates and implications for future research. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 198(7), 470–477. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181e4ce24.
Preciado, A., & D’Anna-Hernandez, K. (2017). Acculturative stress is associated with trajectory of anxiety symptoms during pregnancy in Mexican-American women. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 48, 28–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.10.005.
Reidy, M. C., Orpinas, P., & Davis, M. (2012). Successful recruitment and retention of Latino study participants. Health Promotion Practice, 13(6), 779–787. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839911405842.
Salas-Wright, C. P., Robles, E. H., Vaughn, M. G., Córdova, D., & Pérez-Figueroa, R. E. (2015). Toward a typology of acculturative stress: Results among Hispanic immigrants in the United States. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 37(2), 223–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986315573967.
Sangalang, C. C., Becerra, D., Mitchell, F. M., Lechuga-Pena, S., Lopez, K., & Kim, I. (2018). Trauma, post-migration stress, and mental health: A comparative analysis of refugees and immigrants in the United States. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0826-2.
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., & Lushene, R. E. (1970). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., Lushene, R., Vagg, P. R., & Jacobs, G. A. (1971). Development of the Spanish edition of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Revista Interamericana de Psicologia, 5(3-4), 145–158.
Sullivan, M. M., & Rehm, R. (2005). Mental health of undocumented Mexican immigrants: A review of the literature. Advances in Nursing Science, 28(3), 240–251.
Torres, J. M., & Wallace, S. P. (2013). Migration circumstances, psychological distress, and self-rated physical health for Latino immigrants in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 103(9), 1619–1627. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.301195.
Valdez, C. R., Padilla, B., & Valentine, J. L. (2013). Consequences of Arizona’s immigration policy on social capital among Mexican mothers with unauthorized immigration status. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 35(3), 303–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986313488312.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the mothers who participated in this study. This study could not have been possible without their commitment to our work. The authors would also like to acknowledge the hard work of our impressive research assistants and technical staff: Kathryn McKenney, Sierra Pierce, Jayme Wood, Mala Elam, and Chihiro Christmas. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Flavia Andrade and Dr. Dawn Aycock for their review of early versions of this manuscript and Shivani Dharmasankar for her contributions to preliminary work.
Funding
The authors wish to thank the National Institute of Mental Health under Grant 5T32MH093315-03 (Drs. Girdler & Rubinow, PIs), the Foundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental Illness, the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for their support of this research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Appendix
Appendix
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lara-Cinisomo, S., Fujimoto, E.M., Oksas, C. et al. Pilot Study Exploring Migration Experiences and Perinatal Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Immigrant Latinas. Matern Child Health J 23, 1627–1647 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02800-w
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02800-w