Traumatic Events and Symptoms Among Mexican Deportees in a Border Community

ABSTRACT

Research on traumatic events experienced among Mexicans deported from the United States is scant. Using clinical interviews, this study assessed the frequency of traumatic events and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 47 Mexican deportees in a U.S.-Mexico border community. The majority of participants (98%) reported having experienced one or more traumatic events (M = 9, SD = 5) and nearly half met DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD. Meeting criteria for PTSD was associated with a higher number of traumatic events. Results suggest that prevention, intervention, and policy efforts are necessary to improve the well-being of this understudied immigrant subgroup.

KEYWORDS:

• Immigrants
• deportees
• mental health
• trauma
• posttraumatic stress
• Mexicans

Funding

Funding was provided to Juan Peña by the Minority Biomedical Research Support Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (MBRS-IMSD) and the Training and Mentoring Program (TMP) at the Institute for Behavioral and Community Health (IBACH) and to Luz Garcini by the Ford Fellowship Foundation and el Programa de Investigación en Migración y Salud (PIMSA).