Pre-migration Trauma and Psychological Distress for Asian American Immigrants: Linking the Pre- and Post-migration Context

• In Event: 242 - Section on International Migration Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 17. Immigrant Well-being

Abstract

Current literature on immigrant health primarily focuses on the post-migration stressors. Few studies have considered the link between pre- and post-migration contexts in assessing health outcomes. Drawing on the life course perspective and the assumptive world theory, we examined how pre-migration exposure to trauma contributes to Asian American immigrants’ psychological distress through one of the most important post-migration stressors, perceived discrimination. Findings suggest that endorsement of any pre-migration trauma is associated with higher level of psychological distress, both directly and indirectly through higher level of perceived discrimination. There is also a dose-response effect of pre-migration trauma exposure on both perceived discrimination and psychological distress. The study illustrates the usefulness of bridging the pre- and post-migration context in identifying the health risks along the immigrant life course.

Author

• Miao Li, Purdue University-West Lafayette