Managing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The Target Population

This exploratory study will focus on assessing the stress dynamics of female migrant domestic workforces from Mexico in the various migration process phases; before migration, while in the United States, as well as they return to Mexico. The target population will include Mexican adult female individuals aged between 18 and 60 years, besides who have finished at least one contract as a domestic worker while in the United States.

Common Stressors and Related Health Issues

During the various phases of migration; pre-migration, during migration, and post-migration female domestic workforces encounter various stressors that can be pronounced as social, environmental, and internal demands that necessitate the individual to readjust her usual behavioral and as well as cognitive patterns (Rousseau & Frounfelker, 2018). By way of these stressors accruing, the negative consequences probability for their wellbeing increases. These include common migration-related stressors such as sense of loss of country, home, and family, besides socio-economic problems, in addition to challenges of adapting to the United States. Consequently, there are income and financial stressors associated with pre-migration and post-migration phases. In particular, Edwards, Anderson, and Stranges (2019) indicated that during the pre-migration phase the stress emanates from lack of financial resources to support the application process, educational, and occupational status in the nation of origin. Furthermore, there are stressors involved with social support disruption, along with roles and networks, trauma, and political involvement.

During the post-migration phase the stressors are related to lack of income and money, uncertainty concerning the migration status, under-employment/unemployment, social status loss, loss of community and family social supports (Cook, Alegría, Lin, & Guo, 2009). Additionally concerns about family members left behind and the prospect for reunification, acculturation and adaptation, for instance, change in sex roles.

During the migration-phase they are different psychosocial issues such as homesickness and loneliness, difficulties in adjusting to the American culture and conditions of workplaces and personal safety, besides abuses and restrictions (Edwards, Anderson, & Stranges, 2019). Apart from being physically hurt, other psychosocial related stresses are connected to worries concerning leaving their children and families, and the relationships with their spouses, on top of the uncertainty regarding the migration outcomes, exposure to violence, in addition to the duration and route of migration.

Empirical Support for Three Management Strategies

According to Edwards, Anderson, and Stranges (2019) during the pre-migration phase most of the females use coping strategies that fundamentally involve generating monies by borrowing from their families, friends, acquaintances, and even sale of their own properties. Additionally, they apply problem-oriented coping strategies that involve mobilization of relatives to support them in the preparations for their departure. Following Rousseau and Frounfelker (2018) during the migration phase most females use emotion-focused strategies that include spiritual strategies like reading spiritual books, praying, crying, becoming more dominant, enduring the situation, and resting. Edwards, Anderson, and Stranges (2019) indicate that the social support forms include creating groups whereby they share their problems and look for ways to solve them. Moreover, a considerable number of females cope with stress through having frequent talks with their children, spouses, relatives, and friends.

Reasons why these Strategies are Appropriate

The transformation from problem-centered stress management strategies to a more-passive, in addition to emotion-centered way of managing the stress could be reasoned out by the nonexistence of control, occasioning from these migrant female’s isolated positions as well as reliance on their employers (Cook, Alegría, Lin, & Guo, 2009). Numerous scholars indicate that problem-centered stress management strategies are more applicable whenever situational demands are observed as controllable. On the other hand, Rousseau and Frounfelker (2018) emphasize that emotion-focused stress management strategies are more applicable whenever demands seem uncontrollable. Then again, the variety and flexibility of the appropriate stress management strategies are more significant to the levels of stress than the particular management strategy. Therefore, it is plausible that the live-in nature of the female migrant domestic work, in the company of the working hours, unfortunate working conditions, and employers’ restrictions, have a high inclination of reducing and determining their options for management strategies and thereby their choice of stress management flexibility.

Social structures appear to be a significant part and parcel in the lives of these female migrant domestic workforces in different ways. Being away from their family as well as the responsibility of generating the household income seems to be an important tool towards dealing with the stresses they encounter. As reported in various studies, the creations of social networks have a significant impact on the wellbeing of these migrants (Rousseau & Frounfelker (2018). Moreover, participation in religious activities has been commonly used by these migrants during stress and particularly by society’s most disadvantaged groups, as they aim at emotional adjustment to the stressful situation (Edwards, Anderson, & Stranges, 2019). Additionally, they are focused at the relegation of responsibilities to a higher entity, instead of at actions towards changing the stressors, in addition to supporting them to maintain their cultural identity.

References

Cook, B., Alegría, M., Lin, J. Y., & Guo, J. (2009). Pathways and correlates connecting Latinos' mental health with exposure to the United States. American journal of public health, 99(12), 2247-2254.

Edwards, J., Anderson, K. K., & Stranges, S. (2019). Migrant mental health, Hickam’s dictum, and the dangers of oversimplification.

Kirmayer, L. J., Narasiah, L., Munoz, M., & et al. (2011). Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 183(12), E959–E967. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090292

Rousseau, C., & Frounfelker, R. L. (2018). Mental health needs and services for migrants: an overview for primary care providers. Journal of travel medicine, 26(2), tay150.