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. 2017 Oct;52(10):1325-1328.
doi: 10.1007/s00127-017-1425-6. Epub 2017 Aug 12.

Immigrants from Mexico experience serious behavioral and psychiatric problems at far lower rates than US-born Americans

Christopher P Salas-Wright  1 , Michael G Vaughn  2 , Trenette Clark Goings  3
Affiliations

Immigrants from Mexico experience serious behavioral and psychiatric problems at far lower rates than US-born Americans

Christopher P Salas-Wright et al. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the prevalence of self-reported criminal and violent behavior, substance use disorders, and mental disorders among Mexican immigrants vis-à-vis the US born.

Methods: Study findings are based on national data collected between 2012 and 2013. Binomial logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between immigrant status and behavioral/psychiatric outcomes.

Results: Mexican immigrants report substantially lower levels of criminal and violent behaviors, substance use disorders, and mental disorders compared to US-born individuals.

Conclusion: While some immigrants from Mexico have serious behavioral and psychiatric problems, Mexican immigrants in general experience such problems at far lower rates than US-born individuals.

Keywords: Immigrants; Mental health; Mexico; Substance abuse; Violence and crime.

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