International Migration of Partner, Autonomy and Depressive Symptoms Among Women From a Mexican Rural Area

Ietza Bojorquez, Nelly Salgado de Snyder and Irene Casique
Additional contact information
Ietza Bojorquez: Dirección de Evaluación de Programas y Bioestadística, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México, ietzabojorquez@gmail.com
Nelly Salgado de Snyder: Dirección de Determinantes y Retos de los Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México
Irene Casique: Centro Regional de Estudios Multidisciplinarios, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2009, vol. 55, issue 4, 306-321

Abstract: Background: The emigration of Mexicans to the USA has increased in the last decades, and little is known about the effect of this on the mental health of those who stay behind. Aims: To evaluate the association of emigration of husband and depressive symptoms (DS) among women who stay in Mexico. We also tested the hypothesis that the husband's migration would increase the woman's autonomy, which in turn would decre se DS. Methods: A survey was conducted in a rural area in Mexico. Participants ( n = 418) were selected through probabilistic sampling in three stages: localities, households and individuals. DS were evaluated using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. Results: Having a partner in the USA was associated with higher odds of scoring above the cut-off point in CES-D (OR 3.77, 95% CI 1.92—7.43). Economic autonomy was also associated with DS (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.04—2.02). Conclusion: Migration of husband was associated with DS among women. The construct of autonomy and its operational definition should be further explored.

Keywords: depression; migration; personal autonomy; women; Mexico; rural (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:55:y:2009:i:4:p:306-321

DOI: 10.1177/0020764008095117

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