ABSTRACT
IS THERE BALANCE? MEXICAN MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS’ WORK-
LIFE EXPERIENCES AND EMOTION MANAGEMENT ON THE U.S.- MEXICO BORDER
(May 2017)
Ana Luisa Ramírez Cantú, Master of Arts, TX A&M
International University;
Chair of Committee: Dr. Ariadne A. Gonzalez
The
purpose of this study is to analyze medical doctors’ work-life experiences and
emotional management while practicing on the U.S.-Mexico. They have varying experiences and there is a
constant shift of doctors attempting to manage work and personal lives; they
must learn how to cope with the emotions that derive from their profession and
the added pressures of practicing medicine with precaution due to the ongoing
drug war in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Additionally, doctors on the border treat
patients from both Mexico and the U.S. There are significant pressures and
tensions involved in practicing medicine, and this is even more relevant when
working on the border region. This is why this study is relevant and important.
Through qualitative
methodology, I acquired the experiences of Mexican doctors on the Laredo-Nuevo
Laredo border. Through a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews, doctors
described the difficulties they encountered when dealing with emotions at work,
which gave deeper meaning to their statements.
Kidnappings, muggings, and extortions
put significant constraints on doctors’ occupational lives. Doctors modify
their work practices, work schedules, and other daily routines, which intersect
with their work and personal lives. Doctors also displayed resilience to
continue practicing on the border regardless of the violence. Doctors in my
study experience Clark’s (2000) border theory, developed to fill in the gaps
causing criticism of other work and family theories and work-life mechanisms
(Clark, 2000). In addition to the border theory (Clark, 2000) the role theory
(Kahn et al. 1964) also describes my
participants’ multiple role amalgamation. This theory proposes workers, in this
case, doctors, are involved in varying life roles such as employee or family
member amongst other roles that sometimes are incompatible (Greenhaus &
Beutell, 1985).