Is Temporary Migration from Mexico to the United States Related to Depressive Symptoms Later in Life?

Maria J. Perez-Patron, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The present study will look at the relationship of temporary migration from Mexico to the United States and the presence of depressive symptoms using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). The MHAS is a study on health and aging among a national representative sample of Mexicans ages 50 and over in 2001. The survey contains retrospective information on family formation and migration to the U.S. as well as on mental health outcomes at the time of the survey. Temporary Mexican migrants to the US are expected to have a higher risk of depression compared to non-migrants. Since family and social relationships are very important in old age any effects that temporary U.S. migration may have on family characteristics such as number of children, number of children living nearby, current marital status, and access to other social networks, are likely to influence mental health later in life.