In my previous work, I found elevated levels of anxiety symptomatology among Mexican migrant farmworker women in comparison to Mexican migrant farmworker men. This project, through in-depth interviews, explores the phenomenology of being a female migrant farmworker. Included are an identification of the stressors that are particular to female migrant farmworkers, and an exploration of the effectiveness of the coping mechanisms that are employed in response to these stressors. Also included is a quantitative exploration of predictors of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Data are currently being collected in the effort to standardize the measure.
Preliminary analyses suggest excellent interitem consistency reliability and construct validity.
This research project is in collaboration with John P. Gomez, Ph.D., from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. This project examines stigmatization among high school and college students in the Toledo, Ohio area. This project is in collaboration with the Midwestern Mental Health Center in Montrose, Colorado. We are examining the influence of treatment interventions on self-esteem, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and farmworker stressors among farmworkers in Montrose and Mesa counties. We are evaluating group therapies for female farmworkers and individual therapies for male farmworkers.