Gender Roles, Relationship Satisfaction, and Self-Reported Health: A Window into the Personal Lives of Mexicans in the United States and Mexico

Jennifer J. Tovar, University of Texas at Austin
Jorge Caraveo Anduaga, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente
Ronald Angel, University of Texas at Austin
Maren Andrea Jimenez, University of Texas at Austin

Introduction-The incongruencies in Mexican health outcomes in the United States is often explained as the result of "cultural protection." One speculation is that Mexicans value certain traditions that have become embedded into their lifestyles and culture. One often noted tradition is the conception of gender roles. Little is known, nonetheless, how these traditions play out as actually influencing health. Objectives- 1)To determine the level of effect ascription to "traditional" gender roles influences self-reported health in Mexicans in the United States. 2) To determine the effects of perceive relationship quality on self-reported health. Methods- This study uses the MAPSS (Mexican American Prevalence and Services Survey) and the Epidemiology of Psychiatric Comorbidity Project (EPM, Mexico City) datasets . Results- Acceptance of traditional gender roles for Mexicans in the US is not statistically significant, but in Mexico shows marginal significance. Marital satisfaction is a significant safeguard against poorer health, particularly for women in both countries.