Remittances and risk of major depressive episode and sadness among new legal immigrants to the United States

Eliva Ambugo and Jenjira Yahirun
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Eliva Ambugo: Universitetet i Oslo
Jenjira Yahirun: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Demographic Research, 2016, vol. 34, issue 8, 243-258

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.

Keywords: remittances; depression; gender; refugees; United States of America; immigration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:34:y:2016:i:8

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2016.34.8

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