Hazards in opportunity

Abstract

Epidemiology studies have found that immigrants who enter the United States from Mexico have prevalence rates of mental disorder similar to residents of Mexico City. These rates are much lower than rates of mental disorder found in those of Mexican decent who were born in the United States. Prevalence of depression in U.S.-born Mexican-Americans approximates prevalence rates for the general U.S. population and is twice as high as the rates for recent immigrants from Mexico. This paper will discuss hypotheses that might contribute to these findings. These include decrease in family and social support, the need to compete in a more open society, and the inability to satisfy perceived needs and marginal position in society.