Submission ID 132034
| Issue/Objective | Raising and caring for young children can be particularly challenging in the context of migration, with important implications for maternal mental health. Transnational ties to the country of origin may influence maternal well-being in both positive and negative ways. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between transnational social, economic and cultural ties and the mental health (depressive symptoms, stress, and loneliness) among recently arrived (≤ 5 years) migrant mothers with children aged 0-5 years old living in Canada. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A total of 408 migrant mothers of diverse origins and statuses in three Canadian cities (Montreal, Hamilton, and Edmonton) completed interviewer-administered questionnaires on demographics, migration background, social support, and transnational ties, available in five languages. Structural equation modeling was used to examine how social, cultural, and economic ties relate to loneliness, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress, while controlling for sociodemographic and migration factors. |
| Results | A high sense of belonging to the home country, stressful contacts with friends and family abroad, and having either no confidantes or most/all confidantes living abroad, were associated with higher levels of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and stress. In contrast, visits from grandparents living abroad who provided childcare support, as well as pleasant interactions with friends and family abroad, were associated with lower loneliness. Economic ties, measured as financial strain from sending money abroad, were not associated with mental health outcomes. Social support, regardless of transnational ties, was the strongest predictor of well-being. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The findings highlight the nuanced role of transnational ties in migrant mothers' lives: while positive interactions and visits from grandparents can provide support and enhance well-being, maintaining cross-border connections may also contribute to stress and loneliness, particularly when all confidants reside in the country of origin. A strong sense of belonging to the country of origin may reflect distress linked to conditions in the host country or may indicate homesickness, which in turn contributes to poorer mental health. Care providers supporting migrant mothers in early childhood should consider the dual influence of transnational social and cultural ties on mental health. Facilitating grandparent visits from abroad would be beneficial for migrant maternal mental well-being. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Lisa Merry Faculty of nursing, Université de Montréal Julie Goulet Département des fondements et pratiques en éducation, Université Laval Christine Gervais Département des sciences infirmières, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) Garine Papazian-Zohrabian Faculté des sciences de l'éducation, Université de Montréal Isabelle Archambault École de psychoéducation, Université de Montréal Roxane Caron Faculté des arts et des sciences, École de travail social, Université de Montréal Olive Wahoush School of nursing, McMaster University Christine Kurtz Landy School of Nursing, York University Bukola Salami Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary Kemi Amodu Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta Anna Kirova Department of Elementary Education, University of Alberta |
