Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

, Volume 16, Issue 6, pp 1193–1200 | Cite as

Depression Among Mexican Men on the Migration Frontier: The Role of Family Separation and Other Structural and Situational Stressors

  • Bethany L. Letiecq
  • Joseph G. Grzywacz
  • Katie M. Gray
  • Yanet M. Eudave
Original Paper
First Online:

Abstract

This study documents the mental health of Mexican migrant men in a new non-traditional settlement in the Rocky Mountain West and examines the role of family separation and other structural and situational stressors in relation to depressive symptoms. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted interviewer-assisted surveys with 134 Mexican migrant men. Findings revealed that, overall, 46 % of participants reported depressive symptoms in the range for clinical concern and that single and married men who were separated from their families were particularly vulnerable to poor mental health. Best predictors of depression included both structural stressors (family separation, sending remittances to Mexico) and situational stressors (fearfulness, worry about police confrontation, treatment by non-Latinos, and lack of support). These findings highlight the need for complex and contextually-sensitive mental health interventions designed to protect this vulnerable population on the migration frontier and to promote their mental health.

Keywords

Mexican immigrant men New settlements Mental health Family separation 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The research was funded by Grant P20 RR-16455-10 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of NCRR or NIH. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of our community advisory board members for their contribution to this project.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Bethany L. Letiecq
    • 1
  • Joseph G. Grzywacz
    • 2
  • Katie M. Gray
    • 3
  • Yanet M. Eudave
    • 3
  1. 1.College of Education and Human DevelopmentGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxUSA
  2. 2.Department of Human Development and Family StudiesOklahoma State UniversityTulsaUSA
  3. 3.Department of Health and Human DevelopmentMontana State UniversityBozemanUSA

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