IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v66y2008i8p1760-1771.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Health-related quality of life among Mexican Americans living in colonias at the Texas-Mexico border

Author

Listed:
  • Mier, Nelda
  • Ory, Marcia G.
  • Zhan, Dongling
  • Conkling, Martha
  • Sharkey, Joseph R.
  • Burdine, James N.

Abstract

Understanding influences on health-related quality of life (HRQL) is critical in order to track and improve the health of poor, vulnerable populations and reduce health disparities. However, studies assessing HRQL of minorities are relatively scarce. The purpose of this study was to document personal and socioenvironmental correlates to HRQL. The study population is Mexican Americans in the Texas-Mexico border region living in colonias - unincorporated, impoverished settlements with substandard living conditions along the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexican Americans living in colonias are one of the most disadvantaged, hard-to-reach minority groups in the United States. We used data from the Integrated Health Outreach System Project collected in 2002 and 2003. Our sample included 386 participants randomly selected and interviewed face-to-face with a structured survey. We measured HRQL and examined personal and socioenvironmental correlates. Unadjusted and adjusted (multivariate) logistic regression models were used for data analyses. We found that border Mexican Americans living in colonias were of similar mental health status compared to the general population of the United States, but worse off in terms of physical health. Poor education and long-term residency in colonias were predictors of lower physical health. Women reported worse mental health than men. Length of time living in a colonia, co-morbidity status, and perceived problems with access to healthcare was associated with poorer mental health status. This study provides information for health professionals and policymakers and underscores the need to provide better preventive and medical services for underserved populations. Major findings indicate the need for additional research centered on further exploration of the impact of economic, cultural, and social influences on HRQL among severely disadvantaged populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mier, Nelda & Ory, Marcia G. & Zhan, Dongling & Conkling, Martha & Sharkey, Joseph R. & Burdine, James N., 2008. "Health-related quality of life among Mexican Americans living in colonias at the Texas-Mexico border," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1760-1771, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:66:y:2008:i:8:p:1760-1771
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277-9536(07)00665-X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gee, G.C. & Ryan, A. & Laflamme, D.J. & Holt, J., 2006. "Self reported discrimination and mental health status among African descendants, Mexican Americans, and other Latinos in the New Hampshire REACH 2010 Initiative: The added dimension of immigration," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(10), pages 1821-1828.
    2. Gee, Gilbert C. & Takeuchi, D.T.David T., 2004. "Traffic stress, vehicular burden and well-being: A multilevel analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(2), pages 405-414, July.
    3. Jacqueline L. Angel & Cynthia J. Buckley & Art Sakamoto, 2001. "Duration or Disadvantage? Exploring Nativity, Ethnicity, and Health in Midlife," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 56(5), pages 275-284.
    4. Ziersch, Anna M & Baum, Fran E & MacDougall, Colin & Putland, Christine, 2005. "Neighbourhood life and social capital: the implications for health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 71-86, January.
    5. Franzini, Luisa & Fernandez-Esquer, Maria Eugenia, 2006. "The association of subjective social status and health in low-income Mexican-origin individuals in Texas," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 788-804, August.
    6. Veenstra, Gerry & Luginaah, Isaac & Wakefield, Sarah & Birch, Stephen & Eyles, John & Elliott, Susan, 2005. "Who you know, where you live: social capital, neighbourhood and health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(12), pages 2799-2818, June.
    7. Orfila, Francesc & Ferrer, Montserrat & Lamarca, Rosa & Tebe, Cristian & Domingo-Salvany, Antonia & Alonso, Jordi, 2006. "Gender differences in health-related quality of life among the elderly: The role of objective functional capacity and chronic conditions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(9), pages 2367-2380, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas & Thomas J. McDonald & Rose M. Z. Gowen & Rebecca P. Miller & Joseph B. McCormick & Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, 2011. "Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood from Pregnant Hispanic Women Living in Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Cassandra M. Johnson & Marlyn A. Allicock & Joseph R. Sharkey & M. Renée Umstattd Meyer & Luis Gómez & Tyler Prochnow & Chelsey Laviolette & Elva Beltrán & Luz M. Garza, 2022. "Promotoras de Salud in a Father-Focused Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Border Communities: Approaches and Lessons Learned from Collaboration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Miguel Ángel Salinero-Fort & Paloma Gómez-Campelo & Carmen Bragado-Alvárez & Juan Carlos Abánades-Herranz & Rodrigo Jiménez-García & Carmen de Burgos-Lunar & on behalf of the Health & Immigration Grou, 2015. "Health-Related Quality of Life of Latin-American Immigrants and Spanish-Born Attended in Spanish Primary Health Care: Socio-Demographic and Psychosocial Factors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas, 2014. "Concurrent Fetal Exposure to Multiple Environmental Chemicals along the U.S.—Mexico Border: An Exploratory Study in Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Ortiz, Gabriela & Rodriguez, Sophia & Pozar, María & Moran, Ashley & Cheney, Ann, 2024. "Seeking care across the US-Mexico border: The experiences of Latinx and Indigenous Mexican caregivers of children with asthma or respiratory distress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    6. Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas & Thomas J. McDonald & Rose M. Z. Gowen & Rebecca P. Miller & Joseph B. McCormick & Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, 2013. "Biomarkers of Maternal and Fetal Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides Measured in Pregnant Hispanic Women from Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, January.
    7. Giesbrecht, Melissa & Crooks, Valorie A. & Castleden, Heather & Schuurman, Nadine & Skinner, Mark & Williams, Allison, 2016. "Palliating inside the lines: The effects of borders and boundaries on palliative care in rural Canada," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 273-282.
    8. Baig, Kamran & Shaw-Ridley, Mary & Munoz, Oscar J., 2016. "Applying geo-spatial analysis in community needs assessment: Implications for planning and prioritizing based on data," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 42-48.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Johnston, David W. & Lordan, Grace, 2012. "Discrimination makes me sick! An examination of the discrimination–health relationship," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 99-111.
    2. repec:pri:crcwel:wp08-15-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Nobles, Jenna & Weintraub, Miranda Ritterman & Adler, Nancy E., 2013. "Subjective socioeconomic status and health: Relationships reconsidered," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 58-66.
    4. Jatrana, Santosh & Pasupuleti, Samba Siva Rao & Richardson, Ken, 2014. "Nativity, duration of residence and chronic health conditions in Australia: Do trends converge towards the native-born population?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 53-63.
    5. Jiawen Huang & Yitong Fang, 2021. "Income Inequality, Neighbourhood Social Capital and Subjective Well-Being in China: Exploration of a Moderating Effect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-18, June.
    6. Jerneja Farkas & Majda Pahor & Lijana Zaletel-Kragelj, 2011. "Self-rated health in different social classes of Slovenian adult population: nationwide cross-sectional study," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(1), pages 45-54, February.
    7. Fabio Ferretti & Andrea Pozza & Maurilio Pallassini & Lorenzo Righi & Fulvia Marini & Sabrina Adami & Anna Coluccia, 2019. "Gender invariance of dignity in non-terminal elderly patients with chronic diseases: a multicentric study," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(3), pages 1645-1656, May.
    8. Rosenlieb, Evan G. & McAndrews, Carolyn & Marshall, Wesley E. & Troy, Austin, 2018. "Urban development patterns and exposure to hazardous and protective traffic environments," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 125-134.
    9. De Clercq, B. & Vyncke, V. & Hublet, A. & Elgar, F.J. & Ravens-Sieberer, U. & Currie, C. & Hooghe, M. & Ieven, A. & Maes, L., 2012. "Social capital and social inequality in adolescents’ health in 601 Flemish communities: A multilevel analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 202-210.
    10. Johanna Muckenhuber & Lorenz Pollak & Katharina Viktoria Stein & Thomas Ernst Dorner, 2016. "Individual Cognitive Social Capital and Its Relationship with Pain and Sick Leave Due to Pain in the Austrian Population," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-11, June.
    11. Julia Gelatt, 2013. "Looking Down or Looking Up: Status and Subjective Well-Being among Asian and Latino Immigrants in the United States," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(1), pages 39-75, March.
    12. Francisco Alonso & Cristina Esteban & Adela Gonzalez-Marin & Elisa Alfaro & Sergio A Useche, 2020. "Job stress and emotional exhaustion at work in Spanish workers: Does unhealthy work affect the decision to drive?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Jeanette Eby & Peter Kitchen & Allison Williams, 2012. "Perceptions of Quality Life in Hamilton’s Neighbourhood Hubs: A Qualitative Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 108(2), pages 299-315, September.
    14. Garbarski, Dana, 2010. "Perceived social position and health: Is there a reciprocal relationship?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(5), pages 692-699, March.
    15. Hamilton, Tod G. & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2013. "Changes in income inequality and the health of immigrants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 57-66.
    16. Michał Jaśkiewicz & Tomasz Besta, 2016. "Polish Version of the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS-Poland)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, November.
    17. Samantha C. Winter & Lena Moraa Obara & Francis Barchi, 2019. "Environmental Correlates of Health-Related Quality of Life among Women Living in Informal Settlements in Kenya," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-19, October.
    18. Brent, Daniel & Beland, Louis-Philippe, 2020. "Traffic congestion, transportation policies, and the performance of first responders," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    19. Fleuriet, K. Jill & Sunil, T.S., 2015. "Reproductive habitus, psychosocial health, and birth weight variation in Mexican immigrant and Mexican American women in south Texas," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 102-109.
    20. Bin Zou & Fen Peng & Neng Wan & Keita Mamady & Gaines J Wilson, 2014. "Spatial Cluster Detection of Air Pollution Exposure Inequities across the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-14, March.
    21. Sirven, Nicolas & Debrand, Thierry, 2008. "Social participation and healthy ageing: An international comparison using SHARE data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2017-2026, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:66:y:2008:i:8:p:1760-1771. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.