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Migration circumstances, psychological distress, and self-rated physical health for Latino immigrants in the United States

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  • Torres, J.M.
  • Wallace, S.P.

Abstract

Objectives. We determined the impact of premigration circumstances on postmigration psychological distress and self-rated physical health among Latino immigrants. Methods. We estimated ordinary least squares and logistic regression models for Latino immigrants in the 2002-2003 National Latino and Asian American Study (n = 1603). Results. Mean psychological distress scores (range = 10-50) were 14.8 for women and 12.7 for men; 35% of women and 27% of men reported fair or poor physical health. A third of the sample reported having to migrate; up to 46% reported unplanned migration. In multivariate analyses, immigration-related stress was significantly associated with psychological distress, but not with self-rated health, for both Latino men and women. Having to migrate was associated with increased psychological distress for Puerto Rican and Cuban women respondents and with poorer physical health for Puerto Rican migrant men. Unplanned migration was significantly associated with poorer physical health for all Latina women respondents. Conclusions. The context of both pre-and postmigration has an impact on immigrant health. Those involved in public health research, policy, and practice should consider variation in immigrant health by migration circumstances, including the context of exit and other immigration-related stressors.

Suggested Citation

  • 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, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(9), pages 1619-1627.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.301195_7
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301195
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Tabler & Matthew Painter, 2023. "Skin Tone, Racial/Ethnic, and Gender Differences in Self-Reported Mental and Physical Health among U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident Immigrants," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 249-269, March.
    2. Philbin, Morgan M. & Flake, Morgan & Hatzenbuehler, Mark L. & Hirsch, Jennifer S., 2018. "State-level immigration and immigrant-focused policies as drivers of Latino health disparities in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 29-38.
    3. Miao Li, 2016. "Pre-migration Trauma and Post-migration Stressors for Asian and Latino American Immigrants: Transnational Stress Proliferation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 47-59, October.
    4. Annie Ro, 2014. "The Longer You Stay, the Worse Your Health? A Critical Review of the Negative Acculturation Theory among Asian Immigrants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Erika Arenas & Noreen Goldman & Anne Pebley & Graciela Teruel, 2015. "Return Migration to Mexico: Does Health Matter?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(6), pages 1853-1868, December.
    6. O'Donnell, Alexander W. & Stuart, Jaimee & O'Donnell, Karlee J., 2020. "The long-term financial and psychological resettlement outcomes of pre-migration trauma and post-settlement difficulties in resettled refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    7. Hongmei Tong & Yu Lung & Shen (Lamson) Lin & Karen M Kobayashi & Karen M Davison & Senyo Agbeyaka & Esme Fuller-Thomson, 2021. "Refugee status is associated with double the odds of psychological distress in mid-to-late life: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(6), pages 747-760, September.
    8. Oswaldo Moreno & Miriam Ortiz & Lisa Fuentes & Dina Garcia & Gabriela Leon-Perez, 2020. "Vaya Con Dios: The Influence of Religious Constructs on Stressors around the Migration Process and U.S. Lived Experiences among Latina/o Immigrants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Ro, Annie & Bostean, Georgiana, 2015. "Duration of U.S. stay and body mass index among Latino and Asian immigrants: A test of theoretical pathways," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 39-47.
    10. Anna-Michelle Marie McSorley & Adrian Matias Bacong, 2023. "Associations between Socioeconomic Status and Psychological Distress: An Analysis of Disaggregated Latinx Subgroups Using Data from the National Health Interview Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Arévalo, Sandra P. & Tucker, Katherine L. & Falcón, Luis M., 2014. "Life events trajectories, allostatic load, and the moderating role of age at arrival from Puerto Rico to the US mainland," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 301-310.

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