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“There is No Time†to be a Good Biocitizen: Lived Experiences of Stress and Physical Activity Among Mexican Immigrants in New York City

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  • María Hernández
  • Alyshia Gálvez
  • Sandra Verdaguer
  • Joseph Anthony Torres-González
  • Kathryn P. Derose
  • Karen R. Flórez

Abstract

This paper explores the ways in which Mexican immigrants experience, narrate, and describe stress and the extent to which it impacts their efforts at engaging in physical activity using a biocitizenship framework. Data were derived from a mixed-method study among Mexicans living in New York City recruited from a large Catholic church. The qualitative sample of 25 participated in quantitative and qualitative components of the study and as such we include some of these quantitative indicators as descriptors. Our main qualitative findings reveal that study participants experience stress and time constraint as factors that contribute to the waning of their physical and mental well-being. As such, time constraints for many of our participants were among the factors that contributed to high perceived levels of stress. They attributed this to their difficulty maintaining a physically active lifestyle due to factors like the fast-paced lifestyle in New York, working long hours, and not having enough time to exercise, though some important differences in narratives were noted across gender. Findings have implications for interventions aimed at improving the health of immigrants in general and Mexican immigrants in New York City specifically.

Suggested Citation

  • María Hernández & Alyshia Gálvez & Sandra Verdaguer & Joseph Anthony Torres-González & Kathryn P. Derose & Karen R. Flórez, 2024. "“There is No Time†to be a Good Biocitizen: Lived Experiences of Stress and Physical Activity Among Mexican Immigrants in New York City," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:14:y:2024:i:2:p:21582440241252236
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440241252236
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elizabeth McDermott & Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck, 2018. "The Processes of Becoming a Caregiver Among Mexican-Origin Women: A Cultural Psychological Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(2), pages 21582440187, April.
    2. Ruiz, J.M. & Steffen, P. & Smith, T.B., 2013. "Hispanic mortality paradox: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the longitudinal literature," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(3), pages 52-60.
    3. Nina K Vollbehr & Agna A Bartels-Velthuis & Maaike H Nauta & Stynke Castelein & Laura A Steenhuis & H J Rogier Hoenders & Brian D Ostafin, 2018. "Hatha yoga for acute, chronic and/or treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-28, October.
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