Acculturative Stress Among Documented and Undocumented Latino Immigrants in the United States

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine differences between documented and undocumented Latino immigrants in the prevalence of three immigration-related challenges (separation from family, traditionality, and language difficulties), which were made more severe after the passage of restrictive immigration legislation in 1996. Specifically, the study sought to determine the combined and unique associations of legal status, the three immigration-related challenges listed above, and fear of deportation to acculturative stress related to family and other social contexts. Participants in the study consisted of 416 documented and undocumented Mexican and Central American immigrants living in two major cities in Texas. The Hispanic Stress Inventory–Immigrant form was used to assess acculturative stress in the sample. Results indicated that although undocumented immigrants reported higher levels of the immigration challenges of separation from family, traditionality, and language difficulties than documented immigrants, both groups reported similar levels of fear of deportation. Results also indicated that the immigration challenges and undocumented status were uniquely associated with extrafamilial acculturative stress but not with intrafamilial acculturative stress. Only fear of deportation emerged as a unique predictor of both extrafamililal and intrafamilial acculturative stress.

Contextual Approach to Acculturative Stress Among Latina Immigrants in the U.S.

“…Other studies have argued that while acculturative stress might be highly correlated with discrimination, discrimination is a distinct stressor that impacts one's psychological distress separately [23]. We argue that while acculturative stress is inherent in an individual's efforts to culturally adapt in a new country, discrimination is related to one's ethnic background and socioeconomic status [3,20]. Aiming at a clearer understanding of the immigration challenges impacting Latina immigrant women's mental health, and consistent with previous studies [31], we exclude discrimination from our acculturative stress measure.…”

Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Us and Foreign Born Non-Hispanic Asians: Evidence From Nhanes

“…This may attest to the need for considering socio cultural factors such as a lack of knowledge and understanding about healthy and unhealthy foods readily available in a new host environment for immigrants. Other than diet, chronic stress -which may be experienced by immigrants as they adapt to their new environments -may also play a role in increased risk of metabolic dysfunction [25][26][27][28][29] . Research has shown that chronic stress may lead to energy dysregulation and disruption of brain networks that control eating behavior [30] .…”

Risk and Protective Factors for Three Major Mental Health Problems Among Latino American Men Nationwide

“…Latino male immigrants who assumed a culturally inherent role for their families (chief breadwinners) may face more distress within the personal autonomy-oriented culture in the United States (Arbona et al, 2010). As such, culturaltransmutation-based stressors may exert particular pressure on Latino men.…”