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Coping responses to psychosocial stressors among Mexican and Central American immigrants
Author(s) -
Padilla Amado M.,
Cervantes Richard C.,
Maldonado Margarita,
Garcia Rosa E.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(198810)16:4<418::aid-jcop2290160407>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - stressor , psychosocial , coping (psychology) , immigration , psychology , social support , clinical psychology , language barrier , mexican americans , gerontology , medicine , psychiatry , social psychology , ethnic group , sociology , political science , anthropology , law
This study examined the psychosocial stressors experienced by Mexican and Central American immigrants to the United States. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 62 respondents, half of whom were males, who were nearly equally divided between Mexicans and Central Americans. Major identified group stressors were obtaining employment and related financial difficulties, the language barrier of not speaking English, and problems in adapting to the life‐style of the U.S. Use of a social support network was found effective as a coping response for seeking and obtaining employment, locating a place to live, and overcoming language difficulties. Married respondents with children expressed concern about the availability of drugs and about low moral standards, which they said characterized U.S. society. Men were found to score higher on a measure of depression than were women. This may be due to greater role strain experienced by men who have limited resources to use in the care of their families.