Serial migration within Mexican immigrant families: A community-based research perspective

Immigrants and their children account for the largest percentage of Latinos living in the U.S., and Mexicans account for 39% of this group. Mexican immigrant families commonly migrate in a serial or stage-wise fashion. This refers to when one family member, typically the male head of the household, first migrates to the U.S. to be followed by other family members in subsequent stages. Even though this phenomenon is well-documented in the sociological literature, few psychological studies have examined how immigration-imposed family separations affect immigrant mental health. There are data to support, however, that a history of family separation has been associated with increased levels of depression for both child and adult immigrants. This study was specifically designed to examine the effects of family separation experiences on depression outcomes, using a general acculturative stress framework.

Mexican immigrants were recruited from sites within Chicago and its vicinity. Participants included both child and parent pairs, as well as individual adults, with a history of family separation during their immigration to the U.S. Collaborating community sites included an adult learning center, church, neighborhood organization, social service agencies, and public elementary schools. Anonymous surveys were orally administered to participants to measure objective and subjective accounts of the family separation and reunion, acculturative stress, family cohesion/general family functioning, and depression. This presentation will address the distinct challenges in conducting community-based research and engaging a hard to reach, vulnerable population (i.e., Mexican immigrants), with a particular focus on the role of political and cultural context. In addition, this presentation will discuss the effects of previous family separation experiences on post-immigration mental health. This will highlight the need to develop and implement culturally sensitive interventions that recognize the complex psychosocial needs of immigrant families.