Health of New York's Dominican Immigrants

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Contents

Overview

According to The Dominican Americans, the health condition of Dominicans in the United States requires a separate study.[1] This suggests that we need a further effort to enhance Dominican immigrants health care. Although little is known, problems due to their condition and social disadvantage could be gathered. The stress from emigration and poor condition are main factors of health concern that are known.

Psychological Problems

Peggy Reubens explains that the psychological problems are caused by narcissistic injuries.[2] Harsh circumstances such as migration cause narcissistic injuries because one loses one's social status and becomes detached from one's familiar surroundings, people, and customs. This detachments causes confusion due to breakdown of what one's self is based upon. Reubens says that this mental stress can cause headache, heart palpitations, dizziness, and sexual inhibitions. Their assimilation status as transnational immigrant might have worsened this stress because it makes them feel detached from where they live, and one becomes very tired when one does not go home.

Alcohol Consumption

One might expect the alcohol consumption to increase as a result of stressful process of emigration. Apparantly, Dominicans tend to drink less as they migrate to the United States.[3] It is suggested that this is because of assimilation of Dominicans where woman has more control over man. Also the change in family structure to atomic level discourages their social life among family members. Still, they enjoy alcohol imported from Dominican Republic such as Presidente and Dominican rum when they go out.

PRESIDENTE Pictures, Images and PhotosSource:diland_2007[4]


References

  1. Silvio Torres-Saillant and Ramona Hernandez The Dominican Americans (1998)
  2. Peggy Reubens "Psychological Needs of the New Immigrants." Migration Today 8, no. 2 (1980)
  3. Andrew Gordon "Hispanic Drinking after MIgration: The Cae of Dominicans." Medical Anthropology 2, no. 4 (1978),
  4. diland_2007 [[1]] Photobucket