Author:

• MARITZA CAICEDO - CAICEDO, MARITZA - IIS-UNAM, POBLACIÓN Y ESTUDIOS DEMOGRÁFICOS - <caicedor@unam.mx>

Co-author(s):

• Edwin van Gameren - van Gameren, Edwin - EL COLEGIO DE MÉXICO, CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS ECONÓMICOS - <egameren@colmex.mx>

Thematic Area:

Saúde Mental

Abstract:

Abstract
The high unemployment rates observed in the United States during the recent economic crisis, that moreover vary between ethnic groups, make it relevant to inquire about how this problem is related to the mental health of employed and unemployed persons. Therefore, in this paper we analyze the relationship between unemployment and mental health among Mexican immigrants, Mexicans born in the US, and other Hispanics in comparison with non-Hispanic native whites and Afro-Americans in the US. To achieve this objective we calculate prevalences, prevalence ratios and odds ratios for the population between 18 and 65 years in the labor force, using data from the 1999 and 2009 National Health Interview Surveys. We found that in times of crisis the prevalence of Non-Specific Psychological Disorders (NSPD) in the labor force increased in all ethnic groups. The prevalence ratios indicate that the unemployed face a higher risk to suffer a NSPD than the employed, in particular for the non-Mexican Hispanics. Mexican immigrants, in contrast, show the lowest risks.

Keywords
Unemployment, Mental health, Hispanics, Prevalence, Odds ratio.

Keywords:

Unemployment Mental health Hispanics Prevalence Odds ratio.

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