Sociology Department, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Departamento de Ciencia Política y Políticas Públicas, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610315, Chile.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 17;20(4):3569. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043569.
According to the social stress process model, global crises are macro-level stressors that generate physiological stress and psychological distress. However, existing research has not identified immigrants' COVID-19 containment policy stressors or examined the social stress of sending remittances amid crises. Drawing on in-depth longitudinal interviews with 46 Venezuelan immigrants-half before and half during the pandemic-in Chile and Argentina, we identified the COVID-19 containment policies' stressors. We focused on Venezuelan immigrants because they constitute one of the largest internationally displaced populations, with most migrating within South America. We found that the governmental COVID-19 containment measures in both countries generated four stressors: employment loss, income loss, devaluation of employment status, and inability to send needed remittances. Moreover, sending remittances helped some migrants cope with concerns about loved ones in Venezuela. However, sending remittances became a social stressor when immigrants struggled to simultaneously sustain their livelihoods and send financial support to relatives experiencing hardships in Venezuela. For some immigrants, these adversities generated other stressors (e.g., housing instability) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Broadly, for immigrants, the stressors of global crises transcend international borders and generate high stress, which strains their psychological well-being.
根据社会压力过程模型，全球危机是宏观层面的压力源，会产生生理压力和心理困扰。然而，现有研究尚未确定移民的 COVID-19 防控政策压力源，也未考察危机期间汇款的社会压力。本研究通过对 46 名在智利和阿根廷的委内瑞拉移民进行深入的纵向访谈（其中一半在疫情前，一半在疫情期间），确定了 COVID-19 防控政策的压力源。我们选择委内瑞拉移民作为研究对象，是因为他们是最大的国际流离失所群体之一，大多数人在南美洲内部迁移。我们发现，两国的政府 COVID-19 防控措施产生了四个压力源：失业、收入损失、就业地位贬值和无法寄回所需的汇款。此外，汇款帮助一些移民缓解了对委内瑞拉亲人的担忧。然而，当移民努力维持生计并向在委内瑞拉生活困难的亲属提供经济支持时，汇款成为了一种社会压力源。对一些移民来说，这些逆境产生了其他压力源（例如住房不稳定）和焦虑、抑郁等症状。总的来说，对移民来说，全球危机的压力源超越了国界，产生了高度的压力，这对他们的心理健康造成了压力。
