Here, there and in between: Mental health risk and protective factors associated with transnationalism

Background: Dominicans and Brazilians are often referred to as transnational because of their strong economic, political, social and familial ties to and investments in both the US and home countries. These border-spanning social formations best described in terms of networks, bridge home and host country communities, thereby creating one field of collective and individual social action (Vertovec, 1999). What this means for immigrant health, then, is that health behaviors and attitudes are situated in both transnational and local ecologies. But what does it mean for wellbeing?

Methods: Using mixed qualitative methods we set out to explore the relationship between transnationalism, networks, culture, and health with the Dominican and Brazilian communities in the greater Boston area.   A series of 10 cultural conversations (CC), which employ critical pedagogy, were conducted with Dominican (n=41) and Brazilian (n=48) immigrants.  Data were audio taped and transcripts were coded thematically in the language of the session (Spanish/Portuguese) and a codebook was developed.  Two Photovoice sessions were held during which participants (n=9) visually explored the relationship between culture, health, and their physical and social environments, constructing brief narratives to accompany their images. 

Findings: Participants across groups largely conceptualized health in the context of wellbeing and stressors, as opposed to physical health and disease.  Participants also described cultural factors, and in some cases cultural preservation as a protective factor for health.  However, the notion of  “betweeness” emerged as a stressor for those living emotionally, socially, politically and in some cases physically between countries.