Volume 34 - Article 8 | Pages 243–258 
Remittances and risk of major depressive episode and sadness among new legal immigrants to the United States
Date received: | 13 Mar 2015 |
Date published: | 27 Jan 2016 |
Word count: | 2470 |
Keywords: | depression, gender, immigration, refugees, remittances, United States |
DOI: | 10.4054/DemRes.2016.34.8 |
Additional files: | readme.34-8 (text file, 4 kB) |
demographic-research.34-8 (zip file, 3 MB) | |
Abstract
Background: The impact of remittances on health problems like depression among immigrants is understudied. Yet immigrants may be particularly emotionally vulnerable to the strains and benefits of providing remittances.
Objective: This study examines the association between sending remittances and major depressive episode (MDE) and sadness among legal immigrants in the United States.
Methods: Cross-sectional data (N=8,236 adults) come from the New Immigrant Survey (2003-2004), a representative sample of new U.S. permanent residents.
Results: In logistic regression models, immigrants who remitted had a higher risk of MDE and sadness compared to those who did not, net of sociodemographic and health factors. For remitters (N=1,470), the amount of money was not significantly linked to MDE but was associated with a higher risk of sadness among refugees/asylees compared to employment migrants.
Conclusions: Among socioeconomically vulnerable migrants such as refugees/asylees, sending remittances may threaten mental health by creating financial hardship. Initiatives that encourage economic stability for migrants may protect against depression.
Author's Affiliation
Eliva Ambugo - Universitetet i Oslo, Norway
Jenjira Yahirun - University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, United States of America
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