Charting a Path: Sources of Information for Mexican and Central Americans Who Successfully Migrated to the United States

Background: Annually, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans and Central Americans journey to the U.S. border, one of the most dangerous immigration paths. Despite the importance of accurate information to promote an informed and successful migration process, little is known about how migrants access information or the accuracy of various data sources used. To address this knowledge gap, this study explored sources of information that informed migrants’ journeys, the accuracy of these sources, and analyzed whether accuracy of information was related to mental health concerns (i.e., depression, anxiety, and PTSD).

Methods: We utilized a cross-sectional online survey, available in English and Spanish, that included demographic questions and the following measures: Border Community Immigration Stress Scale (BCISS), Brief Resilience Scale,12-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 20-item Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 measure. Eligibility criteria included Mexican and Central American adults (aged 18 and older) who had migrated to the U.S. during the past 10 years. Data were collected in August and September 2022.

Results: Of the N=305 participants who completed the survey, a higher proportion were women (50.5%), born in Mexico (74.8%), and had been in the U.S. for an average of 7.29 years (SD=2.24) with an average age of 31.68 years (SD=8.47). Participants reported relying on multiple sources to learn about migration to the U.S., most from at least seven different sources prior to beginning their journey. Regarding information accuracy, family/friends in the U.S. were most reliable, with 41.9% of participants reporting them as fully accurate. Accuracy was lower for all other sources of information, including the following fully accurate ratings: friends/family in home country (33.8%), social media (26.2%), NGOs (23.2%), and coyotes/polleros (23.1%). Approximately 40% of participants reported coyotes/polleros and social media as a little accurate or not at all accurate.

Regression analyses revealed statistically significant models for depression (F(9, 228) = 19.937, p < .001, adj. R² = 0.428), anxiety (F(9, 228) = 16.180, p < .001, adj. R² = 0.375), and PTSD F(9, 226) = 14.943, p < .001, adj. R² = 0.357. Social support and resilience were both negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms while border stress had a positive correlation with all three mental health concerns. Our accuracy variable did not prove to be statistically significant in anxiety and depression regression results but was statistically significant in the PTSD model, B = 0.945; p <0.001, (95% CI, 0.421 to 1.469).

Conclusion and Implications: More accurate data about safe and effective migration paths is essential. The U.S. and Mexican governments could employ multiple outlets, including media and political platforms, to better inform migrants about U.S. policies and reduce potential trauma and misinformation associated with the migration journey. Exploring ways to disseminate accurate data to prospective migrants may be one meaningful step toward allowing Mexicans and Central Americans to make an informed decision that is best for them and their families, while also being as prepared as possible for the stressors they will encounter.