Mental health of female Venezuelan migrant caregivers in Colombia

A multi-study, mixed-methods analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7148947
AutoresMaría Pineros-Leano (0000-0001-7057-8316, Boston College), Priya Agarwal-Harding, Priya Agarwal‐Harding (0009-0003-7557-8405, Boston College), Brielle Ruscitti (0009-0000-9793-0607, Boston College), Carolina Vélez-Grau, Carolina Vélez‐Grau (0000-0003-1965-1906, Boston College), Beatriz Costas-Rodríguez (0000-0002-6981-768X, Boston College), Nancy Pérez-Flores, Nancy Jacquelyn Pérez‐Flores (0000-0002-0209-0674, Boston College), Arturo Harker Roa, Arturo Harker (0000-0003-2343-1965, Universidad de los Andes), Diana Bowser (0000-0001-9582-7761, Boston College)
Año2025
Volumen12
Páginase103-e103
Fecha de publicación2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCambridge Prisms Global Mental Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2054-4251 • E-ISSN: 2054-4251
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/gmh.2025.10056
PMID40994840
OpenAlexW4413903275
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas41

Background: The Venezuelan migrant crisis is the largest forced displacement in the Western Hemisphere. Venezuelan migrants face numerous challenges during the migration and resettlement process, negatively impacting their mental and physical health. Migrants who are caregivers face additional vulnerabilities and health needs, particularly women of reproductive age. However, there is limited research on the mental health of this population, including predictors of mental health conditions. Methods: We combined two datasets, including 1,124 quantitative telephone surveys and 28 qualitative semistructured interviews with female Venezuelan migrant caregivers in Colombia – the primary destination for Venezuelan migrants globally – to characterize the prevalence of psychological distress and symptoms of depression and anxiety, key predictors of illness, and experiences with the healthcare system, using a convergent parallel design. Results: We found that a high number of respondents experienced symptoms of moderate-to-severe distress (63%), depression (18%) and anxiety (28%). Across datasets, financial stressors, experiences of discrimination, family separation experiences and history with other health and chronic diseases significantly worsened mental health. Both datasets also showed the protective impacts of social support and mental healthcare from informal sources. Conclusion: This study highlights the critical mental healthcare needs of female Venezuelan migrant caregivers residing in Colombia

Environmental health · Geography · Mental health · Psychiatry · Medicine · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Venezuelan Migration and Society