Stress, Place, and Allostatic Load Among Mexican Immigrant Farmworkers in Oregon.
Cumulative exposure to chronic stressors has been shown to contribute to immigrants' deteriorating health with more time in US residence. Few studies, however, have examined links among common psychosocial stressors for immigrants (e.g., acculturation-related) and contexts of immigrant settlement for physical health. The study investigated relationships among social stressors, stress buffers (e.g., family support), and allostatic load (AL)--a summary measure of physiological "wear and tear"--among 126 adult Mexican immigrant farm workers. Analyses examined social contributors to AL in two locales: (1) White, English-speaking majority sites, and (2) a Mexican immigrant enclave. Our six-point AL scale incorporated immune, cardiovascular, and metabolic measures. Among men and women, older age predicted higher AL. Among women, lower family support related to higher AL in White majority communities only. Findings suggest that Latino immigrants' cumulative experiences in the US significantly compromise their health, with important differences by community context.
Center for Equity Promotion, College of Education, 6215 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-6215, USA, hmcclure@uoregon.edu.
Heather H
HH
McClure
J
J
Josh Snodgrass
Charles R
CR
Martinez
Erica C
EC
Squires
Roberto A
RA
Jiménez
Laura E
LE
Isiordia
J Mark
JM
Eddy
Thomas W
TW
McDade
Jeon
J
Small
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D052636:Allostasis; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D000067565:Farmers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol