The Relationship Between Perceived Social Status, Stress, and Health in Mexican American Immigrants

The Relationship Between Perceived Social Status, Stress, and Health in Mexican American Immigrants
Author: Roland Marcus Green
Publisher:
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2010
Genre:
ISBN:

The current paper examines the relationship between social support, perceived social status and health in the context of the Hispanic Paradox. It was hypothesized that social support will predict perceived social status which, in turn, is an important factor in predicting physical health among Mexican immigrants. The current paper also hypothesized that stress mediates the relationship between perceived social status and health. Three hundred and twenty male and female Mexican immigrants (ages 18-79) completed questionnaires, wore ambulatory blood pressure monitors for 24 hours, and submitted blood samples. Results supported some, but not most hypotheses. Greater social support was related to higher perceived social status (p = 0.01) and stress mediated two indirect relationships between perceived social status and health outcomes. Specifically, as perceived social status increased calories consumed decreased (p = 0.01) and self-reported health improved (p = 0.02). Still, there were no direct relationships between perceived social status and health outcomes and only two stress mediated relationships. Implications of the results and future directions are addressed. The paper discusses the possibility that higher education and possible variations in degree of acculturation among study participants might have resulted in a unique relationship between perceived social status and health. The paper also addresses the role that a high LDS affiliation among participants might play in the relationship between perceived social status and health of Hispanic immigrants. Finally, the relationship between perceived social status and self-reported health as the study?s most consistent finding is discussed.

Immigration, Acculturation, and Health

Immigration, Acculturation, and Health
Author: Jill S. Reichman
Publisher: LFB Scholarly Publishing
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2006
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN:

Annotation Reichman s debunks the myth of the cognitive and behavioral intransigence of first generation Mexican immigrants. Focusing on health care, she reveals the flexibility of female immigrants beliefs about health and illness. She demonstrates how the rate of acculturation varies with the complaint: those with chronic disease shift health ideology faster than those sick from sub-acute illnesses. Ultimately, all sojourners learn new ways to care for themselves and redefine how they prevent and treat disease. Reichman s most important discovery is that the majority of changes occur within ten years, regardless of the age at which immigration takes place, the type of sending community, the level of education, or the English language fluency of the migrant.

Types and Cultural Sources of Social Support

Types and Cultural Sources of Social Support
Author: Elisa Hernandez
Publisher:
Total Pages: 143
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN: 9781267767523

Although there have been great strides in acculturation research, social support has not been adequately researched through the lens of acculturation. The available literature indicates that a bicultural acculturation strategy and high levels of social support are associated with beneficial outcomes for both physical and mental health (Berry, 2005; Sarason & Sarason, 2009). Furthermore, social support from both the heritage and host cultures are associated with optimal development for Latin@s (Finch & Vega, 2003; Jasinskaja-Lahti et al., 2006). Discrimination, however, can directly affect both well-being and stress (Crockett et al., 2007). To date, the connections between these constructs have been examined generally, but the specific mechanisms throughout which this process occurs have not been fully explored. The present study will investigate the connection between social support, discrimination, well-being, and stress for individuals who endorse a bicultural acculturation strategy. More specifically, it will examine how certain types of support from identified cultural sources influence the positive outcomes that are often associated with the social support literature. A sample of 161 bicultural Mexican-American college students participated in the present study. Results indicated that Mexican/Mexican-American peer emotional and appraisal support had important positive implications for subjective well-being. Mexican/Mexican-American peer emotional support actually moderated the negative effects of discrimination on subjective well-being. European American peer informational support negatively impacted subjective well-being. Understanding how culture influences the connection between social support, well-being, and stress is important for informing prevention programs that can support academic and psychological success. Future directions and implications for bicultural college students are discussed.

Mental Health Care for New Hispanic Immigrants

Mental Health Care for New Hispanic Immigrants
Author: Marcia Finlayson
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 237
Release: 2013-04-15
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1135795045

Save timeinform your clinical planning with core knowledge and tips offered from experienced clinicians! While many Hispanic groups have lived in the mainland United States for years, there now is a growth of new groups, such as Dominicans in New York City and Cuban refugees that are in need of culturally competent mental health care. Mental Health Care for New Hispanic Immigrants: Innovative Approaches in Contemporary Clinical Practice will help mental health clinicians gain insight into essential clinical issues facing those who work with these new immigrants. This text, designed to aid in direct clinical practice, will guide you in the effective delivery of comprehensive psychosocial services. It arms you with the latest demographic information and offers valuable suggestions for treatment in different modalities for under-served Hispanic groups. Mental Health Care for New Hispanic Immigrants: Innovative Approaches in Contemporary Clinical Practice presents insights and practice approaches from respected authorities and explores latest trends on these new populations. You’ll find an in-depth examination of the mental health disparities in Hispanic immigrants, a conceptual overview of reasons for immigration and migration patterns, and a look at the unique stressors new groups face which impact immigrants’ mental health. Detailed data on each group, important highlights of pertinent historical aspects, and in-depth discussions of helpful assessment, treatment, and practice issues provide effective approaches illustrated through discussion and case studies. In Mental Health Care for New Hispanic Immigrants: Innovative Approaches in Contemporary Clinical Practice, you will find: detailed research and clinical information about new immigrant groups explorations of the growth of new groups, such as Dominicans in New York City and Cuban refugees recently reaching the shores of Florida information on psychosocial stressors, psychiatric diagnoses, and utilization of services among undocumented immigrants effective outreach techniques a detailed list of resources including extensive Web sites, national centers for the study of Hispanic groups, and important published works used for research and practice up-to-date demographics on new groups Mental Health Care for New Hispanic Immigrants: Innovative Approaches in Contemporary Clinical Practice brings vital information geared to the direct practice professional in psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, and psychiatry, as well as graduate-level students in these fields.