IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i16p9977-d887011.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Hoping for a Better Future during COVID-19: How Migration Plans Are Protective of Depressive Symptoms for Haitian Migrants Living in Chile

Author

Listed:
  • Yijing Chen

    (Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Claudia Rafful

    (Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito Ciudad Universitaria Avenida, C.U., Mexico City 04510, Mexico
    Center for Global Mental Health, National Institute of Psychiatry, Calz México-Xochimilco 101, Colonia, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14370, Mexico)

  • Mercedes Mercado

    (Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago 8320000, Chile)

  • Lindsey Carte

    (Núcleo de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad de la Frontera, Francisco Salazar 1450, Temuco 4811230, Chile)

  • Sonia Morales-Miranda

    (Consorcio de Investigación sobre VIH SIDA TB CISIDAT, Dwight W. Morrow 8, Apt. 7, Centro, Cuernavaca 62000, Mexico)

  • Judeline Cheristil

    (Project “When Reality Overcomes the Intention”, Las Condes 7560908, Chile)

  • Teresita Rocha-Jiménez

    (Society and Health Research Center, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Artes, Universidad Mayor, Las Condes 4780000, Chile
    Millennium Nucleus on Sociomedicine (SocioMed), Las Condes 7560908, Chile)

Abstract

This paper explores the migration experiences, perceived COVID-19 impacts, and depression symptoms among Haitian migrants living in Santiago, Chile. Ninety-five participants from eight neighborhoods with a high density of Haitian migrants were recruited. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and logistic regression analysis were conducted. Chi-squared tests were used to confirm univariate results. We found that 22% of participants had major depressive symptoms based on the CESD-R-20 scale, 87% reported major life changes due to COVID-19, and 78% said their migration plans had changed due to the pandemic. Factors associated with more depressive symptoms were being in debt (OR = 3.43) and experiencing discrimination (ORs: 0.60 to 6.19). Factors associated with less odds of depressive symptoms were social support (ORs: 0.06 to 0.25), change in migration plans due to COVID-19 (OR = 0.30), and planning to leave Chile (OR = 0.20). After accounting for relevant factors, planning to leave Chile is significantly predictive of fewer symptoms of depression. Haitian migrants living in Chile had a high prevalence of depression. Planning to leave Chile was a significant protector against depressive symptoms. Future studies should explore how nuanced experiences of uncertainty play out in migrants’ lives, mental well-being, and planning for their future.

Suggested Citation

  • Yijing Chen & Claudia Rafful & Mercedes Mercado & Lindsey Carte & Sonia Morales-Miranda & Judeline Cheristil & Teresita Rocha-Jiménez, 2022. "Hoping for a Better Future during COVID-19: How Migration Plans Are Protective of Depressive Symptoms for Haitian Migrants Living in Chile," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9977-:d:887011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/16/9977/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/16/9977/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ornelas, India J. & Perreira, Krista M., 2011. "The role of migration in the development of depressive symptoms among Latino immigrant parents in the USA," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(8), pages 1169-1177.
    2. Yu, Shaolu, 2016. "“I am like a deaf, dumb and blind person”: Mobility and immobility of Chinese (im)migrants in Flushing, Queens, New York City," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 10-21.
    3. Mulvaney-Day, Norah E. & Alegría, Margarita & Sribney, William, 2007. "Social cohesion, social support, and health among Latinos in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 477-495, January.
    4. Lindert, Jutta & Ehrenstein, Ondine S. von & Priebe, Stefan & Mielck, Andreas & Brähler, Elmar, 2009. "Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees - A systematic review and meta-analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 246-257, July.
    5. Gemma Vilagut & Carlos G Forero & Gabriela Barbaglia & Jordi Alonso, 2016. "Screening for Depression in the General Population with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D): A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.
    6. German Caruso & Christian Gomez Canon & Valerie Mueller, 2021. "Spillover effects of the Venezuelan crisis: migration impacts in Colombia," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 73(2), pages 771-795.
    7. Gutierrez-Vazquez, Edith & Flippen, Chenoa & Parrado, Emilio, 2018. "Migration and depression: A cross-national comparison of Mexicans in sending communities and Durham, NC," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 1-10.
    8. Rakesh Chander & Manisha Murugesan & Daniel Ritish & Dinakaran Damodharan & Vikram Arunachalam & Rajani Parthasarathy & Aravind Raj & Manoj Kumar Sharma & Narayana Manjunatha & Suresh Bada Math & Chan, 2021. "Addressing the mental health concerns of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: An experiential account," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(7), pages 826-829, November.
    9. Shea Q. Foo & Wilson W. Tam & Cyrus S. Ho & Bach X. Tran & Long H. Nguyen & Roger S. McIntyre & Roger C. Ho, 2018. "Prevalence of Depression among Migrants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, September.
    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. Deisy Del Real & Felipe Crowhurst-Pons & Lizeth Olave, 2023. "The Work, Economic, and Remittance Stress and Distress of the COVID-19 Pandemic Containment Policies: The Case of Venezuelan Migrants in Argentina and Chile," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-19, February.

    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. Jia Lu & Shabana Jamani & Joseph Benjamen & Eric Agbata & Olivia Magwood & Kevin Pottie, 2020. "Global Mental Health and Services for Migrants in Primary Care Settings in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-28, November.
    2. 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.
    3. Johanna W de Joode & Susan EM van Dijk & Florine S Walburg & Judith E Bosmans & Harm WJ van Marwijk & Michiel R de Boer & Maurits W van Tulder & Marcel C Adriaanse, 2019. "Diagnostic accuracy of depression questionnaires in adult patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Mayer, Yael & Ilan, Rotem & Slone, Michelle & Lurie, Ido, 2020. "Relations between traumatic life events and mental health of Eritrean asylum-seeking mothers and their children's mental health," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Alexander Maas & Liang Lu, 2021. "Elections have Consequences: Partisan Politics may be Literally Killing Us," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 45-56, January.
    6. Ullah, Faiz & Harrigan, Nicholas M., 2022. "A natural experiment in social security as public health measure: Experiences of international students as temporary migrant workers during two Covid-19 lockdowns," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    7. Pulido, José & Varón, Alejandra, 2024. "Misallocation of the immigrant workforce: Aggregate productivity effects for the host country," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    8. Chenoa A. Flippen & Rebecca A. Schut, 2022. "Migration and Contraception among Mexican Women: Assessing Selection, Disruption, and Adaptation," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(2), pages 495-520, April.
    9. Hu, Lingqian & Klein, Nicholas J. & Smart, Michael J., 2021. "Comparing immigrant commute travel adaptation across and within racial/ethnic groups," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 112-122.
    10. Francisco Díaz Bretones & Aditya Jain & Stavroula Leka & Pedro A. García-López, 2020. "Psychosocial Working Conditions and Well-Being of Migrant Workers in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Jorge Arias-de la Torre & Gemma Vilagut & Antoni Serrano-Blanco & Vicente Martín & Antonio José Molina & Jose M Valderas & Jordi Alonso, 2020. "Accuracy of Self-Reported Items for the Screening of Depression in the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-10, October.
    12. Philbin, Sandy P. & Ayón, Cecilia, 2016. "Luchamos por nuestros hijos: Latino immigrant parents strive to protect their children from the deleterious effects of anti-immigration policies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 128-135.
    13. Zhang, Wei & Ta, Van M., 2009. "Social connections, immigration-related factors, and self-rated physical and mental health among Asian Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2104-2112, June.
    14. Jia-In Lee & Yu-Ping Chang & Ching-Shu Tsai & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2022. "Internalized Sexual Stigma among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: Its Related Factors and Association with Mental Health Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    15. Ahmed Mohammad Al‐Smadi & Loai Issa Tawalbeh & Omar Salem Gammoh & Ala Fawzi Ashour & Ali Alshraifeen & Yazeed Mohammed Gougazeh, 2017. "Anxiety, stress, and quality of life among Iraqi refugees in Jordan: A cross sectional survey," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(1), pages 100-104, March.
    16. Sanchis-Guarner, Rosa, 2023. "Decomposing the impact of immigration on house prices," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    17. Dávalos, María Eugenia & Ardila Vargas, Luz Karine & Garcia-Suaza, Andres, 2023. "Barriers to the Integration of Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees in Colombia," Documentos de Trabajo 20822, Universidad del Rosario.
    18. Alberto Forte & Federico Trobia & Flavia Gualtieri & Dorian A. Lamis & Giuseppe Cardamone & Vincenzo Giallonardo & Andrea Fiorillo & Paolo Girardi & Maurizio Pompili, 2018. "Suicide Risk among Immigrants and Ethnic Minorities: A Literature Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, July.
    19. Dimitrios V. Diamantis & Iliana Stavropoulou & Konstantinos Katsas & Lyndsey Mugford & Athena Linos & Matina Kouvari, 2023. "Assessing Quality of Life in First- and Second-Generation Immigrant Children and Adolescents; Highlights from the DIATROFI Food Aid and Healthy Nutrition Promotion Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    20. Gutierrez-Vazquez, Edith & Flippen, Chenoa & Parrado, Emilio, 2018. "Migration and depression: A cross-national comparison of Mexicans in sending communities and Durham, NC," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 1-10.

    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:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9977-:d:887011. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.