J Immigr Minor Health

BackgroundUnderstanding contemporary socio-cultural stressors may assist educational, clinical and policy-level health promotion efforts. This study presents descriptive findings on a new measure, the Border Community & Immigration Stress Scale (BCISS).MethodsThe data were from two community surveys as part of community based participatory projects conducted in the Southwestern US border region. This scale includes stressful experiences reflected in extant measures, with new items reflecting heightened local migration pressures and health care barriers.ResultsStressors representing each main domain, including novel ones, were reported with frequency and at high intensity in the predominantly Mexican-descent samples. Total stress was also significantly associated with mental and physical health indicators.DiscussionThe study suggests particularly high health burdens tied to the experience of stressors in the US border region. Further, many of the stressors are also likely relevant for other communities within developed nations also experiencing high levels of migration.20132015-05-14T00:00:00ZP60 MD000155/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United StatesP60MD000155/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United StatesR21 OH008747/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United StatesR21OH008747/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States22430894PMC4431619661