Skip to main content
Log in

Transnational Ties and Mental Health of Caribbean Immigrants

  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Immigration scholars have demonstrated the increasing importance of transnational activities among contemporary immigrants. While much of the previous research has emphasized social and economic outcomes, very little attention has been paid to psychological well-being or mental health. Using a community sample of West Indian immigrants, we developed an empirical measure of the nature and frequency of transnational practices. The resulting Transnationalism Scale is examined for psychometric properties using an exploratory principal components factor analysis, and bivariate correlations with pre-existing measures of psychological well-being, perceived social support, and ethnic identity. Results reveal five factors, some of which are significantly correlated with measures of psychological well-being, social support, and ethnic identity. Findings suggest that transnationalism, as a construct, is a valid measure for this population. We argue that transnational ties shape various aspects of immigrants' lives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Berry JW: Psychology of acculturation: In: Goldberger NR, ed. The Culture and Psychology Reader. New York: New York University Press; 1995:475–488

    Google Scholar 

  2. Foner N: West Indian migration to New York: An overview: In: Foner N, ed. Islands in the City. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press; 2001:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  3. Foner N: Transnationalism then and now: New York immigrants today and at the turn of the twentieth century: In: Cordero-Guzman H, Smith R, Grosfoguel R, eds. Migration, Transnationalization & Race in a Changing New York.Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press; 2001:35–57

    Google Scholar 

  4. Portes A, Zhou M: Should immigrants assimilate? Public Interest 1994; 16:18–34

    Google Scholar 

  5. Waters M: Black Identities: Immigrant Dreams and American Realities. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1999

    Google Scholar 

  6. Portes A, Rambaut R: Immigrant America: A Portrait. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press; 1990

    Google Scholar 

  7. Portes A: Immigration theory for a new century: Some problems and opportunities. Int Migration Rev 1997; 31(4):799–825

    Google Scholar 

  8. Furnham A: The adjustment of sojourners: In: Kim Y, Gudykunst W, eds. Cross Cultural Adaptation. New York: Sage; 1987

    Google Scholar 

  9. Glick Schiller N, Basch L, Szanton Blanc C: From immigrant to transmigrant: Theorizing transnational migration. Anthropol Q 1995; 68(1):48–63

    Google Scholar 

  10. Goldring L: Blurring Borders: Constructing transnational community in the process of Mexico-US migration. Res Commun Sociol 1996; 6:69–104

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mahler S: Theoretical and empirical contributions toward a research agenda for transnationalism: In: Smith MP, Guarnizo LE, eds. Transnationalism From Below. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Press; 1998:64–100

    Google Scholar 

  12. Portes A, Gurarnizo LE, Landolt P: The study of transnationalism: Pitfalls and promise of an emergent research field. Ethn Rac Stud Rev 1999; 22(2):217–237

    Google Scholar 

  13. Smith M, Guarnizo L: Transnationalism From below. New Brunswick, NJ. Transaction Press; 1998

    Google Scholar 

  14. Foroun G, Glick Schiller N: The generation of identity: Redefining the second generation within a transnational social field: In: Cordero-Guzman H, Smith R, Grosfoguel R, eds. Migration, Transnationalization & Race in a Changing New York. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press; 2001:35–57

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mahler S: Suburban transnational migrants: Long Island's Salvadorans: In: Cordero-Guzman H, Smith R, Grosfoguel R, eds. Migration, Transnationalization & Race in a Changing New York. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press; 2001:109–130

    Google Scholar 

  16. Graham P: Political incorporation and reincorporation: Simultaneity in the Dominican migrant experience: In: Cordero-Guzman H, Smith R, Grosfoguel R, eds. Migration, Transnationalization & Race in a Changing New York. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press; 2001:87–108.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lessinger J: Investing or going home? A transnational strategy among Indian immigrants in the United States: In: Glick Schiller N, Basch L, Blanc-Szanton C, eds. Towards a Transnational Perspective on Migration. New York: New York Academy of Sciences; 1992

    Google Scholar 

  18. Crawford-Brown C, Rattray J: Parent-child relationships in Caribbean families: In: Webb N, ed. Culturally Diverse Parent-Child and Family Relationships: A Guide for Social Workers and Other Practitioners. New York: Columbia University Press; 2001

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kasinitz P: Invisible no more? West Indian Americans in the social scientific imagination: In: Foner N, eds. Islands in the City. West Indian Migration to New York. New York: Columbia University Press; 2001:257–275

    Google Scholar 

  20. Henke H: Patterns of migration to the United States in the twentieth century: In: Henke H, ed. The West Indian Americans. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press; 2001

    Google Scholar 

  21. Foner N: New Immigrants in New York. New York: Columbia University Press; 1987

  22. Pessar PR: Engendering migration studies. Am Behav Sci 1999; 42(4):577–600

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bobb V: Neither ignorance nor bliss: Race, racism and the West Indian immigrant experience: In: Cordero-Guzman H, Smith R, Grosfoguel R, eds. Migration, Transnationalization & Race in a Changing New York. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press; 2001:211–238

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rogers R: "Black like who?" Afro-Caribbean immigrants, African Americans, and the Politics of Group Identity: In: Foner N, ed. Islands in The City. Berkeley, CA: University of California press 2001:163–192

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ritsner M, Modai I, Ponizovsky A: The stress support patterns and psychological distress of immigrants. Stress Med 2000; 16:129–147

    Google Scholar 

  26. Allen E: West Indians: In Clinical guidelines in cross-cultural mental health. In: Comas-Diaz L, Griffith E, eds. New York: Wiley; 1987

    Google Scholar 

  27. Regis H: A theoretical framework for the study of the psychological sense of community of English-speaking Caribbean immigrants. J Black Psychol 1988; 15(1):57–76

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sarason I, Levione H, Basham R, Sarason B: Assessing social support: The Social Support Questionnaire. J Pers Soc Psychol 1983; 44(1):127–139

    Google Scholar 

  29. Antonucci T: The negative effects of close social relationships. Fam Rel Interdisc J Appl Fam Stud 1998; 47(4, Special Issue):379–384

    Google Scholar 

  30. Nee V, Sanders J: Trust in ethnic ties: Social capital and immigrants: In: Cook K, eds. Trust in Society. Russell Sage Foundation Series on Trust, vol 2. New York: Russell Sage Foundation; 2001:374–392

    Google Scholar 

  31. Phinney JS: Ethnic Identity in adolescents and adults: Review of research. Psychol Bull 1990; 108:499–514

    Google Scholar 

  32. Phinney JS, Horenczy K, Liebkind K, Vedder P: Ethnic identity, immigration, and wellbeing: An interactional perspective. J Soc Iss 2001; 57(3):493–510

    Google Scholar 

  33. Gopaul-McNicol S, Brice-Baker J: Caribbean Americans: In: Friedman S, ed. Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Across Cultures. New York: Guilford Press; 1997

    Google Scholar 

  34. Phinney JS, Onwughalu M: Racial identity and perception of American ideals among African American and African stu-dents in the United States. Int J Intercult Rel 1996; 20(2):127–140.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gopaul-McNicol S: Working with West Indian Families. New York: Guilford Press; 1993

    Google Scholar 

  36. Waters M: Ethnic and racial identification of second-generation Black immigrants in New York City. Int Migration Rev 1994; 28, 4(108):795–820

    Google Scholar 

  37. Zimet G, Dahlem N, Zimet S, Farley G: The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. J Pers Assess 1988; 52(1):30–41

    Google Scholar 

  38. Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R: A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav 1983; 24(4):385–396

    Google Scholar 

  39. Harrell, SP: The Racism and Life Experiences Scales. 1994. Unpublished Manuscript.

  40. Diener E, Emmons R, Larson R, Griffin S: The satisfaction with life scale. J Pers Assess 1985; 49(1):71–75

    Google Scholar 

  41. Beck A, Ward C, Mendelson M, Mock L: An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry 1961; 4:561–571

    Google Scholar 

  42. Beck A, Epstein N, Brown, G, Steer R: An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometric Properties. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1988; 56:893–897

    Google Scholar 

  43. Ho C: Salt-Water Trinnies: Afro-Trinidadian Immigrant Networks and Non-Assimilation in Los Angels. New York: AMS Press; 1991

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Murphy, E.J., Mahalingam, R. Transnational Ties and Mental Health of Caribbean Immigrants. Journal of Immigrant Health 6, 167–178 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOIH.0000045254.71331.5e

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOIH.0000045254.71331.5e

Navigation