Spousal Migration to the U.S. and Later-Life Health for Middle-Aged and Older Mexican Women

Jacqueline Torres, University of California, Los Angeles

This study examines the association between spousal migration to the U.S. and later-life depressive symptoms for older Mexican women in Mexico. Using the Mexican Health and Aging Study, a nationally representative panel survey of older adults in Mexico, I test the relationship between spousal migration history and a 9-item scale of past-week depressive symptoms at baseline and two and eleven-year follow-up. I consider respondents' own migration and labor histories as potential moderating factors, and also take into account the role of region of residence (e.g. historically high out-migration states versus other states). Preliminary results suggest a significant association between spousal migration to the U.S. and depressive symptoms at two-year follow-up for women living in high out-migration states only. There does not appear to be any significant interaction between spousal migration history and indicators of women's own labor and migration history in the effect on past-week depressive symptoms.