Perceived discrimination and religiosity as potential mediating factors between migration and depressive symptoms: a transnational study of an indigenous Mayan population.
Evidence suggests that in the US perceived discrimination among migrants of Mexican origin is associated with depressive symptoms. Factors that confer resilience, such as religiosity, could serve as a mediating factor in the context of migration stressors. We hypothesized that migration is associated with higher depressive symptoms and that discrimination and religiosity would mediate this relationship in a binational (US and Mexican) sample of indigenous Mexican migrants. We applied path analysis modeling to test our hypotheses with a sample of 650 individuals (n = 583 in Mexico; n = 67 in US). Results indicated that migration experience and current US residence were associated with perceived discrimination, which in turn were associated with a higher risk for depressive symptoms. Among women not living in the US, religiosity was associated with lower perceived discrimination. Discrimination is pervasive among male and female transnational and domestic migrants and religiosity may serve as a protective factor against discrimination for some women.
Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Global Health), San Diego State/University of California, San Diego, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182-4162, USA.
Hugo
H
Salgado
Isa
I
Haviland
Marcella
M
Hernandez
Diana
D
Lozano
Ruby
R
Osoria
David
D
Keyes
Eastern
E
Kang
María Luisa
ML
Zúñiga
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D044382:Population Groups; D063505:Racism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012067:Religion; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult