“Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative study
Background: Following Venezuela's economic collapse in 2015, over 1.5 million Venezuelans have sought refuge in Peru. Research indicates that migrants face stressors at various stages of migration (pre-, journey, and post-migration), with symptoms ranging from mild stress to severe depression a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Migration and Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000352 |
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| author | Haley A Carroll Talia Guevara Valeria Aron Luisa Feline Freier Matthew D. Bird |
| author_facet | Haley A Carroll Talia Guevara Valeria Aron Luisa Feline Freier Matthew D. Bird |
| author_sort | Haley A Carroll |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Following Venezuela's economic collapse in 2015, over 1.5 million Venezuelans have sought refuge in Peru. Research indicates that migrants face stressors at various stages of migration (pre-, journey, and post-migration), with symptoms ranging from mild stress to severe depression and anxiety. This highlights the need for culturally relevant mental health interventions. Thus, the present study aimed to develop culturally sensitive adaptation hypotheses that resonate with the migrants' unique experiences and cultural values. Methods and findings: Qualitative interviews were conducted with Venezuelan migrants residing in Lima (n = 25) and stakeholders in the Peruvian mental health system (n = 10). Thematic analysis, interpreted through the Ecological Validity Model, revealed significant themes relevant to cultural adaptation, including the metaphor and phrase “pa’lante,” religious coping, emotional expression, familiarity, and integration into Peru. These themes informed potential therapeutic adaptations in line with existing evidence-based therapeutic practices. Conclusions: The study observed that Venezuelan migrants face unique mental health challenges due to the stressors encountered during migration. The findings suggest that integrating culturally sensitive elements such as “pa’lante,” religious coping, emotional expression, familiarity, and integration into Peru into mental health interventions could enhance their effectiveness. We propose therapeutic adaptations that leverage the resilience embodied in ''pa'lante,'' incorporate religious coping mechanisms, facilitate balanced emotional expression, and foster cultural familiarity and integration, ensuring a holistic and impactful approach to mental health care for Venezuelan migrants. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82f7c5791f484dd8b44611dcc3e9b050 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-6235 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Migration and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-82f7c5791f484dd8b44611dcc3e9b0502025-08-20T02:35:36ZengElsevierJournal of Migration and Health2666-62352025-01-011110033610.1016/j.jmh.2025.100336“Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative studyHaley A Carroll0Talia Guevara1Valeria Aron2Luisa Feline Freier3Matthew D. Bird4Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, Peru; Corresponding author.Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, PeruBoston University, Boston, MA, USAUniversidad del Pacífico, Lima, PeruUniversidad del Pacífico, Lima, PeruBackground: Following Venezuela's economic collapse in 2015, over 1.5 million Venezuelans have sought refuge in Peru. Research indicates that migrants face stressors at various stages of migration (pre-, journey, and post-migration), with symptoms ranging from mild stress to severe depression and anxiety. This highlights the need for culturally relevant mental health interventions. Thus, the present study aimed to develop culturally sensitive adaptation hypotheses that resonate with the migrants' unique experiences and cultural values. Methods and findings: Qualitative interviews were conducted with Venezuelan migrants residing in Lima (n = 25) and stakeholders in the Peruvian mental health system (n = 10). Thematic analysis, interpreted through the Ecological Validity Model, revealed significant themes relevant to cultural adaptation, including the metaphor and phrase “pa’lante,” religious coping, emotional expression, familiarity, and integration into Peru. These themes informed potential therapeutic adaptations in line with existing evidence-based therapeutic practices. Conclusions: The study observed that Venezuelan migrants face unique mental health challenges due to the stressors encountered during migration. The findings suggest that integrating culturally sensitive elements such as “pa’lante,” religious coping, emotional expression, familiarity, and integration into Peru into mental health interventions could enhance their effectiveness. We propose therapeutic adaptations that leverage the resilience embodied in ''pa'lante,'' incorporate religious coping mechanisms, facilitate balanced emotional expression, and foster cultural familiarity and integration, ensuring a holistic and impactful approach to mental health care for Venezuelan migrants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000352Emigrants and immigrantsCultural characteristicsMental health servicesModelsPsychologicalQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Haley A Carroll Talia Guevara Valeria Aron Luisa Feline Freier Matthew D. Bird “Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative study Journal of Migration and Health Emigrants and immigrants Cultural characteristics Mental health services Models Psychological Qualitative research |
| title | “Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative study |
| title_full | “Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | “Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative study |
| title_short | “Pa'lante!” Perseverance, progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in Peru: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | pa lante perseverance progress and mental health among venezuelan migrants in peru a qualitative study |
| topic | Emigrants and immigrants Cultural characteristics Mental health services Models Psychological Qualitative research |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000352 |
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