Migration and Mental Health in Mexico: Domestic Migrants, Return U.S. Migrants, and Non-Migrants

Abstract

In this paper, we use survey data from the Mexican Retrospective Demographic Survey (Encuesta Demográfica Retrospectiva) and National Survey of Households (Encuesta Nacional de Hogares) collected in 2017 to examine self-reports of depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and pain among domestic migrants, returned U.S. migrants, and nonmigrants. Although self-reports do not always correspond to clinical diagnoses, they offer some insight into mental health, especially for those without a diagnosis because of limited access to services or stigma. Regression results reveal that domestic migrants, e.g., those who moved within Mexico, reported more anxiety, chronic fatigue, and pain, but risks for U.S. migrants were comparable to non-migrants, controlling for other characteristics. Findings from the decomposition analysis helps explain these findings. While domestic migrant vs. non-migrant differences result both from different migrant demographic attributes, such as age and gender, and differences in the effects of these characteristics between the groups, U.S. migrant vs. non-migrant differences in anxiety and pain emerge only after allowing for the relationship between each observed characteristic and the mental health outcome to vary. Thus, compared to domestic migrants, U.S. migrants are selected on characteristics associated with good mental health-they are positively selected-but those characteristics are not protective for them.

Migration Intentions and Alcohol Use Among Adolescents in West-Central Mexico

“…We hypothesize that youth residing in households and communities with a history of migration may present higher levels of vulnerability towards alcohol use. This vulnerability might be the result of a combination of many factors such as easier access to alcohol due to higher income from remittances, higher stress levels associated with migration and the incorporation of more flexible U.S.-based substance use norms within the family and community introduced by returning migrants (Hamilton, 2020 ). It is not clear, however, if the youths’ own intention to migrate influences their attitudes and behaviors towards alcohol use.…”

Chinese elderly migrants' loneliness, anxiety and depressive symptoms: The mediation effect of perceived stress and resilience

“…Population migration is a key issue and a significant factor in the sustainable population development of China ( 1 ). Population migration is a complex process involving multiple changes, which can bring about a series of problems such as lack of social networks and social support, language and cultural differences, and discrimination, all of them may have a negative effect on migrants' mental health ( 2 , 3 ). According to “Report on China's Migrant Population Development”, during the 15 years from 2000 to 2015, the number of elderly migrants increased from 5.03 to 13.04 million, with a 6.3% annual increase ( 1 ).…”

Perinatal Anxiety Symptoms: Rates and Risk Factors in Mexican Women

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