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

Yijing Chen, Claudia Rafful, Mercedes Mercado, Lindsey Carte, Sonia Morales-Miranda, Judeline Cheristil and Teresita Rocha-Jiménez ()
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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
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

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-15

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.

Keywords: migration; mental and health illness; Chile; COVID-19; social support; racism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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