When the United States says you do not belong: Suicide‐related thoughts and behaviors among immigrant young adults varying in immigration legal status

Abstract

Background:The number of immigrants in the United States and the risk of suicide among minoritized individuals have increased. Little research has examined the impact of immigration legal status on suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (SRTB), despite theoretical and empirical work suggesting that feelings of burdensomeness and failure to belong (prominent among immigrants) are risk factors. Methods:We examined a diverse sample of foreign-born young adults (18-25; N = 366). Data collection utilized the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire Revised and items probing belongingness and immigration status (undocumented/ Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), permanent, and citizen).Results: DACA/undocumented status was associated with increased SRTB compared with permanent and citizen categories. Increased SRTBs were associated with reduced feelings of acceptance in the United States, increased deportation fears, and increased fear of being harassed or hurt. Of these belongingness variables, only the interpersonal-not feeling welcome in the United States-partially mediated the risk relation between DACA/undocumented immigration legal status and SRTBs, whereas physical and legal threat, like deportation, did not. Conclusions:Our results highlight the interpersonal nature of SRTB risk in DACA/undocumented immigrants and the need for targeted culture and contextappropriate interventions, as well as advocacy and policy to reduce risk in this historically marginalized population.

Cultural stress is toxic stress: An expanded cultural stress theory model for understanding mental health risk in Latinx immigrant youth.

“…As these sentiments have become commonplace, Latinx immigrant youth have increasingly found themselves in communities that are hostile to them and their families. This hostility exacerbates Latinx immigrant youth’s feelings of “otherness” and prevents them from developing a sense of connectedness to their community (Gonzales et al, 2013; Perez, 2021; Rojas Perez et al, 2023; Venta et al, 2022; Wray-Lake et al, 2018). This disconnection and foreignness are often exacerbated when Latinx immigrant youth encounter these cultural stressors in the school setting.…”

Shifting Between Worlds: Discrimination’s Role in Link Between Civic Engagement and Self-Worth

“…(2018) found among Mexican undocumented adults that experiencing interpersonal discrimination due to being undocumented was the strongest predictor of clinically significant psychological distress, adding that they were 5.47 times more likely to have clinically significant psychological distress compared to those who had not experienced discrimination. As has already been established, undocumented individuals are at-risk for mental health problems and negative developmental outcomes (Cadenas & Nienhusser, 2021;Venta et al, 2022) and discrimination has been linked with worsening these risks Cobb et al, 2019). Despite discrimination being documented as a hindrance, the present study considers discrimination as a spark that ignites the potential for resistance through civic engagement among undocumented young adults.…”

“…Regarding harmful societal perceptions, a study conducted with a sample of Brazilian immigrants found that many participants felt as though their feelings of being discriminated against were primarily due to their racial classification, trouble with speaking English, or being perceived as Hispanic and undocumented, as they were aware of Latinx and Hispanic undocumented individuals being primary targets of anti-immigrant discrimination in the U.S. (Joseph, 2011). This awareness of one's otherness-or being deemed as other-subjects undocumented individuals to feeling like they do not belong (Enriquez et al, 2019;Venta et al, 2022). Indeed, in feeling like one does not belong and consequently being subjected to unfair treatment, there can be consequences for poor psychological well-being and life satisfaction (Cobb et al, 2019).…”