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Mental Health of Older Latin-American Immigrants: an Integrative Review

Author

Listed:
  • Raúl Hormazábal-Salgado

    (Federation University Australia - Berwick Campus)

  • Abdi D. Osman

    (Victoria University College of Sport and Exercise Science)

  • Dean Whitehead

    (Federation University Australia - Berwick Campus)

  • Danny Hills

    (Federation University Australia - Berwick Campus)

Abstract

This review examines the current literature on mental health in older Latin-American immigrants. This review was guided by Whittemore and Knafl’s (2005) methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Nine electronic databases were systematically searched: Academic Search Alumni Edition, Academic Search Complete, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify original research published within a 50-year-period. The search was restricted to peer-reviewed, primary research published in Spanish, Portuguese, or English and focused on the mental health of older Latin-American immigrants aged 60 years or above. Twenty-four peer-reviewed studies, 23 from the USA and 1 from Australia, were included and analyzed. Content analysis revealed four essential themes in older Latin-American immigrants: depressive symptoms, different coping mechanisms, cognitive status, English proficiency, and mental health. In all studies, detrimental outcomes for the mental health of older Latin-American immigrants were reported. There are notable psychosocial factors that represent and outline the complexity of mental health in older Latin-American immigrants. High-quality research using different methodologies and conducted in countries with populations of Latin-American immigrants beyond the USA is strongly recommended.

Suggested Citation

  • Raúl Hormazábal-Salgado & Abdi D. Osman & Dean Whitehead & Danny Hills, 2025. "Mental Health of Older Latin-American Immigrants: an Integrative Review," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 955-985, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:26:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s12134-024-01200-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-024-01200-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Katharine M. Donato & Jonathan Hiskey & Jorge Durand & Douglas S. Massey, 2010. "Migration in the Americas: Mexico and Latin America in Comparative Context," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 630(1), pages 6-17, July.
    2. Blanca Sánchez‐Alonso, 2019. "The age of mass migration in Latin America," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 72(1), pages 3-31, February.
    3. Albina Balidemaj & Mark Small, 2019. "The effects of ethnic identity and acculturation in mental health of immigrants: A literature review," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(7-8), pages 643-655, November.
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