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Galvez ES, Held ML, Wang F, Lucio R. Unraveling the Migration Journey: Understanding the Impact of Migration Stage Stress on the Mental Health of Mexicans and Central Americans. J Immigr Minor Health 2025:10.1007/s10903-025-01692-z. [PMID: 40434543 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-025-01692-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025]
Abstract
Existing research highlights the impact of migration-stage stress on the mental health of Latinx migrants. However, there remains limited understanding of the experiences of recently arrived Mexican and Central American migrants who have fled hardships and encountered substantial challenges throughout their migration journey. To address this gap, this study was designed to examine the associations between cumulative stress experienced at distinct stages of migration (pre-migration, peri-migration, and post-migration) to the United States (U.S.) and depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Additionally, the study aimed to examine the moderating role of social support as a protective factor for these mental health outcomes. Using a cross-sectional design, survey data were collected from Mexican and Central American migrants who arrived within the past decade (n = 305). Multiple regression analyses were employed to assess the relationship between stage-specific migration stressors and reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Higher pre-migration and post-migration stress were significantly associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, while peri-migration stress was specifically associated with heightened anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Notably, social support demonstrated a protective effect on all mental health symptoms, although no significant moderating effects were observed. Findings highlight the critical importance of addressing migration-stage stress throughout all stages of migration. This study presents practice and policy implications to promote the wellbeing and integration of Mexican and Central American migrants in the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Silvia Galvez
- Stokely Management Center, College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 916, Volunteer Blvd Floors 5 and 7, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
| | - Mary Lehman Held
- Stokely Management Center, College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 916, Volunteer Blvd Floors 5 and 7, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Fei Wang
- Stokely Management Center, College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 916, Volunteer Blvd Floors 5 and 7, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Robert Lucio
- Stokely Management Center, College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 916, Volunteer Blvd Floors 5 and 7, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
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Cartwright AF, Braccia A, Chiu DW, Jones RK. Characteristics of foreign-born abortion patients in the United States, 2021-2022. Contraception 2024; 140:110553. [PMID: 39089664 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2024.110553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine the characteristics of foreign-born abortion patients compared to those born in the Unites States and to explore whether barriers for foreign-born patients varied by state Medicaid coverage of abortion care. STUDY DESIGN We used data from the Guttmacher Institute's 2021-2022 Abortion Patient Survey, a national sample of patients obtaining clinic-based abortion care in the United States. We compared sociodemographic characteristics of foreign- and US born respondents, as well as barriers to care. Among foreign-born patients, we compared those in Medicaid coverage states vs states that restrict Medicaid coverage. RESULTS Some 12% of the 6429 respondents were born outside the United States. Compared to US born patients, they were less likely to have Medicaid coverage and more likely to be Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic, to have no health insurance, and to have completed the survey in Spanish. In addition, foreign-born patients were more likely to report delays because they did not know where to get an abortion (18.3% vs. 12.6% for US born). Compared to foreign-born patients living in Medicaid coverage states, those in non-Medicaid states reported multiple barriers, particularly related to cost: respondents in non-Medicaid states were three times as likely to pay out of pocket for abortion (75.8% vs 27.4%) and five times more likely to rely on financial assistance (24.1% vs 4.8%). CONCLUSIONS Foreign-born abortion patients face knowledge and financial barriers to accessing abortion care compared to those who are US born, and these financial burdens are amplified for those living in non-Medicaid coverage states. IMPLICATIONS Abortion patients born outside the United States may have overcome many obstacles to obtain care. Expanding state Medicaid coverage of abortion could reduce cost burdens for foreign-born populations.
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Young MEDT, Sudhinaraset M, Tafolla S, Nakphong M, Yan Y, Kietzman K. The "disproportionate costs" of immigrant policy on the health of Latinx and Asian immigrants. Soc Sci Med 2024; 353:117034. [PMID: 38905924 PMCID: PMC11849312 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that Asian and Latinx immigrants' health and health care access is shaped by immigrant policies that determine their rights, protections, and access to resources and the extent to which they are targeted by policing or deportation based on citizenship/legal status and other immigration-related social categories. However, there is limited population-based evidence of how immigrants experience the direct consequences of policies, nor of the impact of such consequences on their health. Between 2018 and 2020, we conducted the Research on Immigrant Health and State Policy (RIGHTS) Study, developing a population-based survey of Asian and Latinx immigrants in California (n = 2010) that measured 23 exclusionary experiences under health care and social services, education, labor/employment, and immigration enforcement policies. Applying Ruth Wilson Gilmore's concept of "disproportionate costs," we conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) and regression models of the RIGHTS data to 1) describe patterns of immigrant policy exclusion experienced by Asian and Latinx immigrants and 2) test relationships between patterns of policy exclusion and health care access and health status. LCA analyses identified 6 classes of distinct combinations of policy exclusions. In regression analyses, respondents in the class with cumulative exclusions across all policy sectors had the worst health care access and highest level of psychological distress, but the best self-rated health; while those in the class with employment and enforcement exclusions also had poor health care access. Respondents in the other 3 classes experienced combinations of health and social services exclusions, but these alone were not associated with worse outcomes. Findings show that the consequences of immigrant policies harm health through both cumulative exposure to and intersections of exclusions across policy sectors. Labor/employment and immigration enforcement policies, specifically, likely drive health inequities within immigrant populations. The RIGHTS study highlights the need to measure the cumulative and intersecting "disproportionate costs" of immigrant policy within diverse immigrant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young
- Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, 5200 N Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - May Sudhinaraset
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, 650 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sharon Tafolla
- Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, 5200 N Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Michelle Nakphong
- Division of Prevention Science, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco. 550 16th St. 3rd Fl., San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Yueqi Yan
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, 5200 N Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Kathryn Kietzman
- Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, 10960 Wilshire Blvd #1550, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
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Espinoza-Kulick M, Espinoza-Kulick A, González E, Takahashi J. Immigration Policy is Health Policy: News Media Effects on Health Disparities for Latinx Immigrant and Indigenous Groups. Health Promot Pract 2023; 24:818-827. [PMID: 36856165 DOI: 10.1177/15248399221150816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Legal exclusions and cultural factors reproduce barriers to health care by enforcing boundaries between citizens and immigrants, leading to a range of health risks and disparities for Latinx immigrant and Indigenous communities. This study utilized a mixed-methods examination of news media and ethnographic interviews guided by a decolonial-inspired framework to demonstrate the linkages between policy discourse and health behaviors. Both newspaper articles and interviews with affected stakeholders show how immigrants and their families experience more significant health risks because of policy changes and proposals. Regardless of the political regime, media discourses that promote fear and threat sustain the overall effects of immigration policy enforcement strategies on health. Immigration policy is health policy, and these laws should be evaluated in terms of their impact on public health, in addition to other factors. Furthermore, the news media is a contextual factor for health promotion strategies and a target for health advocates working with immigrant and Indigenous communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elisa González
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
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Edwards NM, Isik-Ercan Z, Lu HT, Fall M, Sebti L. "Do the Best You Can with Resources You Have to Offer": Community stakeholder views on supporting immigrant families. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:837-859. [PMID: 36413594 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
First and second-generation immigrant families of young children in the United States face potential challenges that may be mitigated with stakeholder support in their communities. We examined self-reported views and behaviors among professionals (n = 76) working with families in a mid-Atlantic urban community, and whether these views correlated with demographic factors. Over half of respondents were not able/willing to report the number of immigrant families served and over half believed immigrant parents are less likely to advocate for themselves or their child. Participants were fairly split in seeking advice from others and comfort in talking with immigrant families about their culture/needs. It is essential to assess stakeholders' views on perceived roles, roadblocks, and desired supports. This analysis informs efforts to work more collaboratively with community partners to improve outreach to immigrant families during those formative years in a child's development. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Megan Edwards
- Department of Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education, College of Education, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, USA
| | - Zeynep Isik-Ercan
- Department of Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education, College of Education, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, USA
| | - Huan-Tang Lu
- Department of Educational Services and Leadership, College of Education, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, USA
| | - Madjiguene Fall
- School of Curriculum & Teaching, College of Education, Kean University, Union, New Jersey, USA
| | - Latifa Sebti
- Doctoral Candidate, PhD in Education: Special Education Concentration, College of Education, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, USA
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Stafford AM, Tanna A, Bueno KM, Nagy GA, Felsman IC, de Marchi S, Cholera R, Evans K, Posada E, Gonzalez-Guarda R. Documentation Status and Self-Rated Physical Health Among Latinx Young Adult Immigrants: the Mediating Roles of Immigration and Healthcare Stress. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023; 10:761-774. [PMID: 35175583 PMCID: PMC8853124 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01264-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated that undocumented Latinx immigrants in the USA report worse physical health outcomes than documented immigrants. Some studies suggest that immigration-related stress and healthcare related-stress may explain this relationship, but none have tested it empirically. The purpose of this study was to determine if immigration-related stress and healthcare-related stress in the USA explain the relationship between documentation status and physical health among Latinx immigrants in North Carolina. The conceptual model was tested utilizing baseline data from a longitudinal, observational, community-engaged research study of young adult (18-44 years) Latinx immigrants residing in North Carolina (N = 391). Structural equation modeling was used to determine relationships among documentation status, healthcare, and immigration stress in the past six months, and self-rated physical health. Goodness-of-fit measures indicated that data fit the model well (RMSEA = .008; CFI = 1.0; TLI = .999; SRMR = .02; CD = .157). Undocumented individuals were more likely to experience immigration stress than their documented counterparts ([Formula: see text] = - 0.37, p < 0.001). Both immigration stress ([Formula: see text] = - 0.22, p < 0.01) and healthcare stress ([Formula: see text] = - 0.14, p < 0.05) were negatively related to physical health. Additionally, immigration stress was positively related to healthcare stress ([Formula: see text] = 0.72, p < 0.001). Results demonstrate that documentation status is an important social determinant of health. Passage of inclusive immigration and healthcare policies may lessen the stress experienced by Latinx immigrants and subsequently improve physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aneri Tanna
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Box 90046, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Karina Moreno Bueno
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Box 90046, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Gabriela A. Nagy
- Duke University School of Nursing, 307 Trent Dr. DUMC 3322, Durham, NC 27710 USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2213 Elba St, Durham, NC 27705 USA
| | - Irene Crabtree Felsman
- Duke University School of Nursing, 307 Trent Dr. DUMC 3322, Durham, NC 27710 USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Dr, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Scott de Marchi
- Department of Political Science, Duke University, 140 Science Dr, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Rushina Cholera
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27707 USA
| | - Kate Evans
- Duke University School of Law, 210 Science Dr, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Eliazar Posada
- El Centro Hispano Inc, 2000 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707 USA
| | - Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda
- Duke University School of Nursing, 307 Trent Dr. DUMC 3322, Durham, NC 27710 USA
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Damle M, Wurtz H, Samari G. Racism and health care: Experiences of Latinx immigrant women in NYC during COVID-19. SSM. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN HEALTH 2022; 2:100094. [PMID: 35578651 PMCID: PMC9095080 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected minoritized racial groups, especially Latinx immigrants, evidenced by the high rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths among this population. With increasing xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment in parallel to the pandemic, it is critical to understand the perspectives of Latinx populations. This study explores Latinx immigrant women's perceptions of racism and xenophobia in their health care experiences in New York City (NYC) during the COVID-19 pandemic and, further, seeks to understand the role of perceived discrimination in health care settings and on health care access. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method of analysis from twenty-one in-depth interviews conducted with foreign-born women in the five boroughs of New York City from diverse countries across Latin America. Four central themes emerged including: structural inequalities, discriminatory health care experiences, victimization in public institutions, and overcoming discrimination in health care settings. Latinx immigrant women described the ways in which perceptions and experiences of discrimination shaped their capacity to address health-related needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides evidence to a growing body of literature suggesting that structural racism and xenophobia and perceptions of anti-immigrant discrimination, including resulting structural inequalities, may have a negative effect on individuals' ability to access and engage the health care system, resulting in avoidance of health care services - a critical need during a global pandemic. Scholars, policymakers, and practitioners alike should be mindful of how racism and xenophobia shape Latinx immigrant communities' engagement with the health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Damle
- Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heather Wurtz
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Goleen Samari
- Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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8
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Martinez-Donate AP, Dsouza N, Cuellar S, Connor G, Zumaeta-Castillo C, Lazo-Elizondo M, Yamasaki Y, Perez C, Carroll-Scott A, Martinez O, Hassrick EM. Provider perceptions of availability, accessibility, and adequacy of health and behavioral services for Latino immigrants in Philadelphia: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1645. [PMID: 36042441 PMCID: PMC9427076 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14066-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Latino populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by substance use, HIV/AIDS, violence, and mental health issues (SAVAME). A growing body of evidence demonstrates the syndemic nature of SAVAME and the need for integrated strategies to reduce their impact. This study sought to understand the network of SAVAME services for Latino immigrants in Philadelphia to inform future interventions for SAVAME prevention and mitigation. METHODOLOGY Key informant interviews (N = 30) were conducted with providers working in Latino-serving organizations providing SAVAME services. Interviews were analyzed using thematic coding and grounded theory. RESULTS Latino-serving providers perceived a large need for, and important limitations in the availability, accessibility, and adequacy of SAVAME services for Latino immigrants. Gaps were seen as especially acute for mental health and substance use services, partly because of insufficient funding for these services. Latino immigrants' lack of health insurance, immigration status, limited English proficiency (LEP), stigma surrounding SAVAME issues, and limited knowledge of available services were identified as significant barriers preventing access to services. Providers noted that scarcity of well-trained, culturally competent, and ethnically concordant providers reduced the adequacy of SAVAME services for Latino immigrant clients. The small size, low levels of infrastructure, and limited capacity were reported as additional factors limiting the ability of many Latino-serving organizations to adopt a syndemic approach in the prevention and treatment of SAVAME services. CONCLUSIONS The results call for changes in the structure of funding streams and communitywide strategies to foster collaboration across SAVAME providers working with Latino immigrant clients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana P Martinez-Donate
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Nishita Dsouza
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sierra Cuellar
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gabrielle Connor
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claudia Zumaeta-Castillo
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mariana Lazo-Elizondo
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Cristina Perez
- WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy Carroll-Scott
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Omar Martinez
- College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, PA, Philadelphia, USA
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9
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Held ML, First JM, Huslage M. Effects of COVID-19, Discrimination, and Social Support on Latinx Adult Mental Health. J Immigr Minor Health 2022; 24:1446-1458. [PMID: 35841445 PMCID: PMC9288212 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-022-01382-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the role of COVID-19 exposure and discrimination on depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among Latinx adults residing in the southeastern United States. Survey data were collected from 264 Latinx adults. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures, we estimated a structural model for hypothesized direct and indirect relationships between the risk factors of COVID-19 exposure and discrimination, social support, and two mental health conditions: depression and posttraumatic stress. COVID-19 exposure and discrimination each had a significant and positive relationship with both depression and posttraumatic stress. Social support was found to have a significant and inverse relationship with depression and posttraumatic stress, as well as to mediate the relationship between discrimination and both mental health symptoms. Implications for service provision and program design are presented. Future studies should examine variation between southeastern states and consider the influence of documentation status among an immigrant-only sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Lehman Held
- College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, TN, Knoxville, USA.
| | - Jennifer M First
- College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, TN, Knoxville, USA
| | - Melody Huslage
- College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, TN, Knoxville, USA
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10
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Held ML, Villarreal-Otálora T, McPherson J, Jennings-McGarity P. Politics, Pandemics, and Trauma: Understanding and Addressing Latino Health Needs Through a Culturally-Informed Lens. Front Public Health 2022; 10:877328. [PMID: 35910919 PMCID: PMC9337836 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.877328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Latino communities in the United States (U.S.) have long endured trauma due to multiple intersecting social and political forces. New restrictive immigration policies since 2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic have each created novel stressors for Latino communities, while escalating the risk of mental health disorders and highlighting the communities' vulnerabilities. The effects of these stressors have been particularly pronounced in southeastern states, such as Tennessee and Georgia, due to their state-level anti-immigrant legislation. Yet, we lack sufficient data to understand how these factors present among Latinos seeking services. To focus attention on the specific experiences of Latino communities living in the U.S. Southeast, the authors analyzed the perspectives of 44 service providers working with these communities in the region using qualitative data collected in an online survey administered during the COVID-19 pandemic and while President Trump's exclusionary immigration policies were in force. Four themes were identified: (1) Latino communities' strengths; (2) impact of the Trump administration on Latino communities; (3) impact of COVID-19's on Latino communities; and (4) strategies to enhance service delivery in Latino communities. Results provide meaningful data to inform micro- and macro-level service delivery in two exclusionary policy states and beyond. Findings suggest future research should include other new immigrant destinations and explore perceptions of Latino community members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Lehman Held
- College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | | | - Jane McPherson
- School of Social Work, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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11
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Payan T. Understanding the Nexus between Undocumented Immigration and Mental Health. Curr Opin Psychol 2022; 47:101414. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Torres VN, Williams EC, Ceballos RM, Donovan DM, Ornelas IJ. Discrimination, acculturative stress, alcohol use and their associations with alcohol-related consequences among Latino immigrant men. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2022; 23:150-165. [PMID: 35634786 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2022.2077273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Latino immigrant men are at increased risk for unhealthy alcohol use and related consequences due to social stressors associated with immigration. We assessed the associations of, and examined whether social stressors moderated associations between, alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences in a community-based sample of Latino immigrant men in Washington (N = 187). The mean Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT-C) score was 6.3 (scores ≥ 4 indicate unhealthy alcohol use). More than half of the men (61.5%) reported experiencing discrimination in at least one setting and mean acculturative stress score was 18.3 indicating moderate levels of acculturative stress. Linear regression models were fit to assess main effects (associations between both alcohol use and social stressors and alcohol-related consequences) and moderation (whether the association between alcohol use and consequences varied based on experience of social stressors using multiplicative interaction) after adjustment for potential confounders. Alcohol use (β = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.20-0.73; p = .001), discrimination (β = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.27-1.43; p = .004), and acculturative stress (β = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02-0.24; p = .025) were all associated with increased experience of alcohol-related consequences. The association between alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences was stronger for those with high levels of acculturative stress (p = .025) but not experience of discrimination (p = .587). Findings underscore the importance of social and cultural context in alcohol use and related consequences. Efforts to reduce negative consequences of drinking may include focus on reducing exposure to discrimination and acculturative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa N Torres
- University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Emily C Williams
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rachel M Ceballos
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dennis M Donovan
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute (ADAI), Seattle, WA, USA
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13
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Buchanan GJR, Ballard J, Fatiha N, Song S, Solheim C. Resilience in the system: COVID-19 and immigrant- and refugee-serving health and human service providers. FAMILIES, SYSTEMS & HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF COLLABORATIVE FAMILY HEALTHCARE 2022; 40:111-119. [PMID: 34807638 PMCID: PMC9762549 DOI: 10.1037/fsh0000662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immigrant and refugee families in the U.S. have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health and human service providers who serve these communities have been essential in supporting them during this crisis, yet have also had to adapt the way they provide services. The current study aims to describe the challenges these service providers have faced and the adaptations they have made. METHOD Our research team conducted semistructured interviews with 19 service providers at 10 organizations identified as serving one or more immigrant and/or refugee communities in the state of Minnesota. We analyzed the interviews for themes and used normalization process theory (May & Finch, 2009) to understand how service providers have shown resilience and where gaps in capacity emerged. RESULTS Mechanisms of adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis included staff taking on larger workloads, utilizing existing service frameworks in new ways, shifting their services remotely and/or substantively, and utilizing the trust they had built with communities and individuals over time. Challenges that had not been fully overcome included insufficient funding for community need and restrictions on methods of interaction. DISCUSSION Key implications include allocating funding for immigrant and refugee families, developing and evaluating new service formats in collaboration with clients, providing direct support for staff in times of crisis, and using practice-based evidence to speed implementation science research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen J. R. Buchanan
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
- Center for Mental Health Services Research, Brown School of Social Work and Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Jaime Ballard
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
| | - Nusroon Fatiha
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
| | - Soyoul Song
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
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Borelli JL, Russo LN, Arreola J, Cervantes BR, Marquez CM, Montiel G, Avalos V, Carballo J, Garcia J, Bhatt I, Torres G, Leal F, Guerra N. Saving a seat at the table for community members: co-creating an attachment-based intervention for low-income Latinx parent-youth dyads using a promotor/a model. RESEARCH IN PSYCHOTHERAPY (MILANO) 2022; 25:598. [PMID: 35373959 PMCID: PMC9153758 DOI: 10.4081/ripppo.2022.598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Evidence for the effectiveness of attachment-based interventions in improving youth's socioemotional health increases each year, yet potential for scalability of existing programs is limited. Available programs may have lower acceptability within low-income immigrant communities. Co-designing and implementing interventions with trained community workers (Promotors) offers an appealing solution to multiple challenges, but community workers must have high investment in the program for this to be a workable solution. This study examines the experiences of promotors involved in the co-creation and delivery of an attachmentbased intervention program for low-income Latinx youth (ages 8 to 17) and their mothers. Promotors (N=8) completed surveys, reporting on the experiences of each therapy group in terms of group dynamic (e.g., promotors' connectedness to each group, perceived program relevance). Following the completion of the intervention study, promotors participated in interviews in which they described their experiences in co-creating the intervention, delivering the intervention to the community, and their recommendations for improving the intervention. Overall, promotors perceived group dynamics as positive, though the mother groups were evaluated as significantly higher in quality (e.g., lower conflict) than the youth groups. Interviews revealed that promotors enjoyed the cocreation process and identified important areas for improvements for the intervention (incorporation of more visuals, creation of agelimited groups, reducing number of youth sessions) and evaluation (reduction in length, modification of language). Integrating input from promotors in the process of co-creating and implementing an intervention can benefit every member of the community from the program participants to the providers themselves.
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Living Near an Immigration Detention Center: Impact on Latinas' Health. J Immigr Minor Health 2021; 24:626-638. [PMID: 34097163 PMCID: PMC8181535 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-021-01219-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
There is ample evidence that exposure to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities could widen Latinas’ health disparities. Whether or not residing near an ICE detention center (IDC) further impacts their health is unknown. During nationwide increased ICE activities Latinas (N=45) attended an intervention at two separate sites: one near and another one far from an IDC. A focus group discussion and an interview were conducted using a grounded theory approach. Quantitative data were collected and analyzed. Participants residing near an IDC benefited less from the intervention and reported changes in anxiety levels and in mobility, and a sense of powerlessness. They also requested resources to respond to ICE overreach and broadcasting of their reality. Our results suggest that proximity to IDCs impacts immigrant communities and public health programming, which is inevitably embedded in political realities. These need to be addressed when providing much needed interventions.
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Liminal Legality Among Mixed-Status Latinx Families: Considerations for Critically Engaged Clinical Practice. CONTEMPORARY FAMILY THERAPY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10591-020-09545-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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