Chronic Stress and Its Symptoms among Mexican Immigrants in Edmonton, Canada

Abstract

Immigration-related stress is the result of an environment that imposes demands surpassing the psychological resources of those suffering from it with a destabilizing effect on their physical and psychological health. The purpose of this study is to determine what the chronic stress levels are and their association with psychophysiological symptoms and gender in Mexican immigrants living in Edmonton, Canada. A representative random sample was made of 237 immigrants in 2012. The stress symptoms inventory was used and a multiple regression and multivariate analysis was made. Results indicated that chronic stress levels were: 14% high, 46% medium and 40% low and psychophysiological predictor symptoms were: fatigue, constipation, frequent colds, cold hands and feet and insomnia, and the female gender. Therefore one may conclude that a precise identification of the predictor symptoms of chronic stress may help promote and implement programs aimed at timely prevention of stress before they affect the health and occupational safety of Mexican immigrants living in Edmonton, Canada.