THE WORK-FAMILY CHALLENGE AND MENTAL HEALTH Experiences of Mexican immigrants

The work-family literature is dominated by studies of white middle-class workers. In this study, we sought to expand this focus by examining work-family issues from the perspective of Mexicans who have immigrated to the USA within the past five years. Using data from qualitative in-depth interviews (N = 22) and quantitative structured interviews (N = 150), we documented the work-family experiences associated with immigration, and we examined the extent to which these experiences differed by gender as well as their mental health effects. The in-depth interviews clearly indicated that separation from family and community was a common and poignant strain experienced by Mexican immigrants who came to the USA to find work, and that these experiences did not differ between women and men. Quantitative analyses corroborated the qualitative findings by indicating women and men had similar levels of work-family strain. Analyses also indicated that higher levels of work-family strain were associated with more perceived stress, anxiety and depression, and that these associations did not differ between women and men. Finally, modest evidence suggested that the effects of work-family strain on mental health may be lower when the realities experienced by immigrants in finding employment and sending money home matched their expectations. This study adds a new voice to the work-family literature and the context and results make clear the tension between work and family: families frequently benefit from adults' paid work, but this paid work is not without costs.