Contextualizing the trauma experience of women immigrants from Central America, South America, and Mexico

Abstract

Trauma has been understudied among Latina immigrants from Central and South America. This study examined the types and context of trauma exposure experienced by immigrant women from Central America, South America, and Mexico living in the United States. Twenty-eight women seeking care in primary care or social service settings completed life history interviews. The majority of the women reported some type of trauma exposure in their countries of origin, during immigration, and/or in the United States. In the interviews, we identified types of trauma important to the experience of these immigrants that are not queried by trauma assessments typically used in the United States. We also identified factors that are likely to amplify the impact of trauma exposure. The study highlights the importance of utilizing a contextualized approach when assessing trauma exposure among immigrant women.

A mental health intervention strategy for low-income, trauma-exposed Latina immigrants in primary care: A preliminary study.

“…The intervention was designed to be simultaneously responsive to patients’ preferences for individual psychotherapy, to the need of primary care clinics that serve the uninsured for cost- and time-efficient services, and to address the social isolation that is so common to the Latina immigrant experience. Developed based on findings from the research team’s formative research (Kaltman et al, 2011; 2014; Hurtado de Mendoza et al, 2014), the resulting intervention, Latinas Saludables, incorporated both individual and group sessions. The goals of the individual sessions were to reduce symptoms and to address group readiness.…”

“…First, to understand and contextualize Latinas’ traumatic experiences and their help seeking behaviors, Latina immigrants (primarily from Central and South America) who were seeking care in the primary care clinics were interviewed in-depth. In addition to being exposed to a myriad of traumatic experiences (Kaltman et al, 2011), women reported feeling lonely and isolated and lacking a strong social network they could rely on, as they encountered several barriers to developing and maintaining social relationships in the US (Hurtado de Mendoza et al, 2014). …”

“…This formative work (Kaltman et al, 2011; Kaltman et al, 2014; Hurtado de Mendoza et al, 2014) suggested three important characteristics of a mental health intervention designed to reduce PTSD and depression for low-income Latina immigrants. Specifically, it had to be responsive to the women’s treatment preferences, the needs of the clinics for cost-efficient services, and the goal of addressing social isolation and enhancing social support.…”

Violence In Immigrants: Effects On Health, Perception Of Discrimination And Loneliness

“…Just like in this, few women have reported sexual violence in intimate relationships. Women's stories suggest that sexual violence, in the context of intimate relationships, is not often discussed, especially in specific research surveys on the subject [29]. Emotional abuse and psychological violence were the main types revealed by the women interviewed.…”

Knowledge and Preferences Regarding Antidepressant Medication Among Depressed Latino Patients in Primary Care

“…Questions were modified from a trauma exposure measure used in the collaborative care clinic at intake (Kaltman et al, 2011). …”