The psychological effects of political and domestic violence on Central American and Mexican immigrant mothers and children

Abstract

The goal of this study was to compare the psychosocial adjustment of 70 immigrant mothers and their children from Mexico and countries in Central America. In particular, we traced the effects of political violence on Central American refugee families and domestic violence on resettled Mexican women and children. Mothers and children were interviewed about political and domestic violence they had witnessed and experienced, and their current mental health, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Central American refugee children appeared indistinguishable on mental health indices from Mexican children residing in violent homes. Both groups of children had elevated psychological symptoms when compared to Mexican immigrant children from nonviolent backgrounds. Central American mothers were most likely to meet the clinical criteria of post-traumatic stress disorder. We examined whether the mothers' post-traumatic stress symptoms, fathers' demise, or general stressors mediated the effects of violence on the children's mental health. The overall effects of war on children are mediated by maternal mental health and the specific associated risk of having lost a father to violent death. Mexican immigrant children were additionally affected by their mothers' employment. Our findings show similar effects on children of growing up with different forms of violence.

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