Young Adult Immigrants Research Articles

Factors associated with willingness to attend mental health services among young adults living in public housing

ABSTRACT This research examines factors associated with a willingness to seek mental health services among young adults living in public housing. Young adults (N = 121) were recruited from public housing in the United States and were administered a two-hour survey measuring demographics, depression, acculturative stress, and willingness to use mental health services. Results indicate that third generation immigrants were more willing to use mental health services than second generation immigrants. Depression was marginally associated with willingness to use mental health services. Implications for practice, policy, and research among immigrant young adults are discussed.

Assessing the Impact of Health Disparities on Latinx Immigrant Young Adults’ Critical Consciousness Development

This study tested a theory-based model linking the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health domains (i.e. work, home life, social life, emotional health, physical distancing) with critical consciousness (CC) development among a diverse sample of 291 Latinx immigrants ages 18–30. Results from global and local fit indices using structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated good model fit. Greater pandemic health impact from the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to greater critical reflection and action, but not agency. Tests of indirect effects with bootstrapping showed that CC development among Latinx immigrants took place in ways that align with theoretical postulations.

Mixed Methods Study Protocol: Language Identity, Discrimination, and Mental Health among Multilingual 1.5 Generation Asian/Asian American Immigrant Young Adults.

Language identity, an understudied factor, can influence isolation and discrimination, leading to disparities in well-being and mental health among immigrants. This study aims to investigate the role of language identity on structural racism and discrimination among 1.5 generation Asian/Asian American immigrants in a diverse U.S. state. We developed a three-step sequential approach: Stage 1-qualitative analysis (1A, focus group discussion; 1B, in-depth interviews); Stage 2-quantitative analysis (2A, language identity measurement scale; 2B, cross-sectional online survey; 2C, multivariate multiple linear regression); Stage 3-another round of qualitative analysis (3A, follow-up in-depth chronological interviews). Therefore, this study will contribute to the field by introducing a novel three-step mixed methods approach, marking a notable improvement over conventional explanatory or exploratory sequential designs.

A qualitative exploration of Latinx immigrant young adults’ experiences with anti-immigration policies and the COVID-19 pandemic

Anti-immigration policies have been on the rise over the past four decades. The present study explored how anti-immigration policies and rhetoric impacted the psychological and material experiences of Latinx immigrant young adults across legal statuses. Furthermore, the present study examined the ways the COVID-19 pandemic was experienced by Latinx immigrant young adults. We analyzed semi-structured interviews with 30 immigrant young adults (ages 18–25; M = 20.93; SD = 2.03) from Latin America. Results suggested that restrictive immigration policies and the threat of deportation produced stress and interrupted key developmental milestones among Latinx immigrant young adults. Results also show how the vulnerabilities experienced during young adulthood were further compounded by the pandemic. Findings can inform policy and practice aimed at supporting immigrant young adults during the transition to adulthood within the context of heightened anti-immigration policies and the pandemic.

Navigating a climate of administrative burden: the perspectives of young adult undocumented immigrants in applying for COVID-19 disaster relief assistance for immigrants in California.

Undocumented immigrants experienced high levels of economic insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic while being excluded from government-based relief and unemployment benefits. In April 2020, California became the first state to offer financial aid to undocumented immigrants through the innovative Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants (DRAI) program in collaboration with several community-based organizations (CBOs). However, the process of applying for aid was marked by many implementation challenges, such as intake and language access; however, little data exists on the direct experiences of the undocumented community. This qualitative study examines the experiences of undocumented Asian and Latinx young adults living in California in applying for DRAI through framework of administrative burden. Themes distilled from participant experiences highlight how administrative burden via learning, psychological, and compliance costs shape the ways in which undocumented immigrants navigate policies and programs, such as DRAI. These experiences highlight the need for policymakers to address structural and programmatic administrative burdens in policy development; failure to do so result in detrimental impacts that outweigh financial benefits or cause communities to forgo needed resources.

Everyday discrimination, co-ethnic social support and mood changes in young adult immigrants in Germany–Evidence from an ecological momentary assessment study

ObjectiveIn the context of international migration flows, Germany is the second largest receiving country of migrants in the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the momentary mood effects of discrimination experiences for young adult immigrants and which social resources can buffer negative effects. A distinction is made between the importance of inter and intra-ethnic interaction partners in processing stressors. MethodUsing an ecological momentary assessment design, first-generation migrants in Germany who had recently migrated from Poland, Turkey or Syria were interviewed three times a day over seven days in June 2021 (N individuals = 976; N observations = 11,470). The timing of the short surveys was chosen at random using a signal contingent sampling method. Participants reported their momentary mood and instances of discrimination, along with information on social support perception and interaction partners during the preceding hour in the context of their everyday lives. Hybrid mixed-effects regression models were estimated and the research questions were tested with three-way interactions. ResultsThe results indicate that perceived social support only moderately buffers the negative effect of everyday discrimination experiences on mood. A positive main effect on mood is observed for situational variations in perceived social support as well as for support from interaction partners. ConclusionThe findings illustrate that being embedded in supportive relationships is important in everyday life, regardless of the occurrence of stressors. Furthermore, the study suggests that the level of perceived support is more important for first-generation migrants than the ethnic origin of the support provider.

Fielding the research participant perception survey to evaluate a culturally tailored Latinx cohort study

Abstract Introduction: Latinx populations are underrepresented in clinical research. Asking Latinx research participants about their research experiences, barriers, and facilitators could help to improve research participation for these populations. Methods: The Salud Estres y Resilencia (SER) Hispano cohort study is a longitudinal cohort study of young adult Latinx immigrants whose design and conduct were tailored for their study population. We administered the Research Participant Perception Survey (RPPS) to SER Hispano participants to assess their experiences in the study. We describe overall results from the RPPS and compare results of surveys administered to SER Hispano participants via email versus telephone. Results: Of 340 participants who were contacted with the RPPS, 142 (42%) responded. Among respondents, 53 (37%) responded by initial email contact; and 89 (63%) responded by subsequent phone contact. The majority of respondents were between 35 and 44 years of age (54%), female (76%), and of Cuban origin (50%). Overall, research participants expressed high satisfaction with their research experience; 84% stated that they would “definitely” recommend research participation to friends and family, with no significant difference by method of survey administration (P = 0.45). The most common factor that was chosen that would influence future research participation was having summary results of the research shared with them (72%). Conclusion: We found that culturally tailored studies can be good experiences for Latinx research participants; and we found that use of the RPPS can be administered successfully, particularly when administered by more than one method, including telephone, to evaluate and to improve research experiences for this population.

Quality of life and work engagement of Brazilian immigrants in an Asian country

Objective: to measure and correlate the quality of life with the work engagement of brazilian immigrants during their period of stay in an asian country. Method: quantitative and descriptive study, carried out from October to November 2020, with sample recruitment in “snowball sampling”. 157 brazilian immigrants were contacted. Those over 18 years of age who had stayed in the country for at least 2 months were included. Research Ethics Committee approval was obtained. Results: 63 young adult brazilian immigrants, men and women, with high schooling, high workload and good income were selected. Quality of life presented varied results, indicating different experiences in the period. Work engagement’s scores were average. The correlation between the scales did not indicate robust correlations between their domains. Conclusion: the study indicated the influence of the country’s culture on both components. New studies of preparatory interventions for brazilian immigrants about the country’s language, society's functioning, and labor issues can positively impact the quality of life and work engagement of these individuals during their stay in the country.

Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Citizenship Status, and Self-Rated Health Among Immigrant Young Adults.

Both racial/ethnic discrimination and citizenship status are manifestations of racism. Few empirical studies have examined the role of multiple stressors and how both stressors are interlinked to influence health among immigrant young adults. Informed by the theory of stress proliferation, the current study seeks to examine the interplay between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and citizenship status on health. We used the third wave of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) to examine the influence of perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and citizenship status on self-rated health (SRH) among immigrant young adults (N = 3344). Perceivedracial/ethnic discrimination was initially associated with SRH. After adjusting for both predictors, those experiencing perceivedracial/ethnic discrimination and non-citizen youth were less likely to report better health than youth who did not report perceived racial/ethnic discrimination or citizen youth. In fully adjusted multivariate regression models, racial/ethnic discrimination remained significant, while citizenship status was no longer associated with SRH. To test stress proliferation, an interaction term was included to assess whether the relationship between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and SRH varied by citizenship status. The interaction term was significant; non-citizen young adults who experienced racial/ethnic discrimination were less likely to report better health in comparison to citizen young adults and those who did not report perceivedracial/ethnic discrimination. Results suggest that the interplay between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and citizenship status may be influential for health among immigrant young adults. These findings underscore the need for further assessment of the role of stress proliferation on immigrant young adults' health.

Experiences of racial microaggression among immigrant and Canadian-born young adults: Effects of double stigma on mental health and service use.

Significant disparities in utilization of mental health services exist among immigrant and Canadian-born populations. These gaps may be associated with a 'double stigma' - stigma related to being from a racialized background exacerbated by mental health stigma. Immigrant young adults may be particularly susceptible to this phenomenon, given developmental and social transitions from adolescence to adulthood. To investigate the joint effects of racial microaggression and mental health stigma on mental health and service use among first-generation immigrant and Canadian-born university students. We conducted an online cross-sectional study among first-generation immigrant and Canadian-born university students (N = 1,280, Mage = 19.10, SD = 1.50). Despite no differences in anxiety or depression symptoms, first-generation (foreign-born) immigrants were less likely to have received therapy and to have taken medication for mental health issues compared to Canadian-born participants. First-generation immigrants also reported experiencing higher levels of racial microaggression and stigma toward service use. Results suggest the presence of a double stigma, mental health stigma and racial microaggression, each explained significant additional variance in symptoms of anxiety and depression and medication use. No effects of double stigma for therapy use were found - while higher mental health stigma predicted lower use of therapy, racial microaggression did not predict unique variance in therapy use. Our findings highlight the joint effects of racial microaggression and stigma toward mental health and service as barriers to help-seeking among immigrant young adults. Mental health intervention and outreach programmes should target overt and covert forms of racial discrimination while incorporating culturally sensitive anti-stigma approaches to help reduce disparities in mental health service use among immigrants in Canada.

Fragile functionality: The experience of immigrant young adults in Israel who grew up with a parent addicted to alcohol

Studies have highlighted the emotional, social and behavioral effects for children growing up with a parent addicted to alcohol. The current study enhances the current literature in two major ways. Firstly, it focuses on a unique group of young people, children of immigrant parents who face simultaneous challenges related to immigration, as well as an addicted parent. Secondly, it aims to enrich the literature by understanding the subjective experience of these young people, today adults, as well as the ways in which they coped with the challenges they encountered. In this phenomenological qualitative study, 15 immigrant young adults from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) in Israel, who grew up with at least one parent who became addicted to alcohol after immigration, were asked about their experiences growing up. The thematic analysis identified four themes: 1) The immigration experience; 2) Living in the shadow of a drunk parent; 3) Coping mechanisms and 4) The current impact of childhood experiences. The analysis highlighted the way in which two environment stressors – immigration and an alcohol abusing parent- intertwine on multiple levels to shape the young person’s experience. It also highlighted the duality of the young people’s experience, which we have termed “fragile functionality”: young people who, on the surface, function, take on parental roles, succeed at school and other developmental tasks and yet hold within them intense feelings of anxiety, fear, and chaos, feelings which they are terrified will overwhelm and topple their fragile emotional balance. An understanding of this duality can be critical for those working with immigrant families, whether social workers, teachers or therapists.

Identity Formation and Post-Traumatic Growth Among Central American Immigrant Youth

To examine how Central American immigrant youth move from experiences of trauma to psychological growth as they transition into adulthood. The sample consisted of 20 (10 males and 10 females) adolescent and young adult immigrants (ages 18–26) from Honduras (20%), Guatemala (35%), and El Salvador (45%). Most participants migrated unaccompanied when they were 13 to 20, and their average time in the United States was 4.4 years. Data were collected with Identity, Inc., a community-based organization that supports Latino youth (ages 8–25) and their families living in poverty in Maryland. Semi-structured life history interviews were conducted in Spanish by a bilingual, bicultural staff member in person and on zoom. A diverse research team used a grounded theory approach to code transcripts in pairs, and then synthesize this coding within a post traumatic growth framework. A grounded theory approach was used to conduct open, axial, and selective coding of translated and de-identified transcripts. Findings from this study revealed the potential for post-traumatic growth, including a sense of one’s strength and enhanced meaning and purpose, and the importance of positive interpersonal connections in fostering growth. This study demonstrates a capacity for growth in Central American immigrant youth that goes beyond acculturation or coping with trauma and supports the value of trauma-informed services for this population.

“A lot of people there were undocumented, or at least looked like me”: illegality, visibility and vulnerability among immigrant young adults in Florida

ABSTRACT Contemporary migration studies in cultural geography emphasize place-based approaches, recognizing the relational and contextual nature of belonging, especially as these are nested within material and symbolic structures of racial inequality. This article highlights the role of precarious legal status, focusing on undocumented immigrant young adults who grew up in the United States, to examine subjective experiences of place-making and belonging in situations of heightened visibility, deportability and vulnerability. We analyze 56 interviews with undocumented immigrant young adults, predominantly from Latin America, collected in Central Florida. Findings focus on themes linked to shared experiences of vulnerability due to illegality and visibility: (1) belonging in co-ethnic/co-legal neighborhoods, (2) ethnic and racial tensions, (3) neighborhood (in)security and safety, and (4) mutual assistantance and support among neighbors. In addition to poverty, poor infrastructure, and lack of safety, many neighborhoods in which undocumented youth grow up are characterized by racial and ethnic divisions. Our findings contribute an analysis of how undocumented migrants experience place as intersecting with broader patterns of race and ethnicity, and point to the importance of “co-legal status”. This extension of the concept of co-ethnicity references shared experience of illegality as it relates to place-making for legally precarious individuals.

Relationship Between Perceived Discrimination and Somatic Symptom Disorder Among Young Adults With Immigrant Background in South Korea.

Insufficient research has compared the impact of subtle and overt discrimination on somatic symptom disorder (SSD) among young adults with immigrant backgrounds in South Korea, a country that is becoming increasingly racially and ethnically diverse. Therefore, this study seeks to examine this. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in January 2022 involving 328 young adults aged 25 to 34 years who had at least one foreign-born parent or were foreign-born immigrants. We used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression with SSD as the dependent variable. The results showed that subtle and overt discrimination were positively associated with SSD among young immigrant adults. Subtle discrimination seems more strongly related to SSD among Korean-born immigrant adults (N = 198; beta = 0.171, P < .05) than foreign-born immigrant young adults (N = 130; beta = 0.031, P > .05). This result partially supported the theory that both forms of discrimination were differently related to increased SSD tendencies by place of birth.

Lived experiences of young adult Chinese American breast cancer survivors: A qualitative analysis of their strengths and challenges using expressive writing.

Immigrant young adults of cancer survivors face unique challenges but their unmet needs are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and strengths of immigrant young adult Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Descriptive phenomenology using a qualitative research approach was employed in this study. Expressive writing was used to explore the experiences of 15 young adult Chinese American immigrant breast cancer survivors. Thematic analysis was conducted to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of young adult Chinese American breast cancer survivors. On average, participants had been diagnosed at 37 years (ranging from 32 to 39) and living in the USA for 12 years. Participants' writings revealed their challenges during and after treatment (major theme), including difficulty accepting having cancer at a young age, financial difficulties, self-blame, inadequate family support, uncertainty about their futures, and worries about their children and infertility (sub-themes). Participants' strengths and coping strategies (major theme) included physical recovery and positive self-perception, family as motivation for survival, and support from family and friends (sub-themes). Post-traumatic growth (major theme) included shifting life priorities and enjoying life and self-transcendence (i.e., forgiving and helping others) (sub-themes). The overarching topic found across the major themes in the young adult Chinese American breast cancer survivors' essays was the importance of interpersonal relationships, especially with family and children. Healthcare providers should respond with culturally appropriate support, referrals, and resources based on these findings.

Early trajectories of cigarette and ENDS use among young adult recent Latino immigrants to U.S.

Background: Recent Latino immigrants (RLIs) to the U.S. have shown high smoking rates during their first year since arrival, raising concern about future escalation of tobacco use. Objective: To examine trajectories of cigarette and Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use among RLIs from pre-immigration (T0) through their first (T1) and second (T2) year in the U.S. Methods: Data originated from a longitudinal study of 540 (50% females) RLIs aged 18-34. Inclusion criteria was residing in Miami/Dade County (MDC), and having immigrated from a Latin American country within the past year. Trajectories were identified by using the Proc Traj procedure (SAS©, v 9.4). Results: Rates of cigarette use per month declined from 11.8 days/month in T0 to 4.9 d/m in T2. Rates for ENDS use however, increased from T0 (1.1 d/m) to T1 (1.8 d/m) and then lowered back to 0.9 d/m in T2. Four separate cigarette and e-cigarette use trajectories were identified. Only one of them showed increase in cigarette (10.6% of RLIs), and ENDS use (4.5% of RLIs). Being male, and not completing high school were significant factors in explaining smoking trajectories. Being younger than 30 years old was largely associated with ENDS use. No evidence of a substitution effect between cigarette and ENDS use was found. Discussion/Conclusions: Interventions to discourage tobacco use among Latino immigrants should begin early in the immigration process, aimed to preserve initial reductions and dissuade those at risk of increased tobacco use overtime.

Between- and within-school tracking and literacy skills of multilingual young adults: A cross-national comparative study

This study investigates how school tracking is related to the literacy skills of multilingual immigrant young adults in 17 countries participating in the OECD Survey of Adult Skills. Our results revealed that between-school tracking was negatively related; within-school tracking—ability grouping for some subjects but not for all—was positively related to multilingual immigrant learners. Multilingual immigrant learners tended to perform better in educational systems with less external differentiation and some degree of ability grouping for certain subjects. It suggests that differentiated instruction was only beneficial when implemented in a limited and less segregated manner. We underline the importance of inclusive and flexible learning environments and pathways to mitigate the inevitable initial disadvantages faced by this group of multilingual learners.

Differences in all-cause and cause-specific mortality due to external causes and suicide between young adult refugees, non-refugee immigrants and Swedish-born young adults: The role of education and migration-related factors.

International migration has increased during the past years and little is known about the mortality of young adult immigrants and refugees that came to Sweden as children. This study aimed to investigate 1) the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in young accompanied and unaccompanied refugees and non-refugee immigrants compared to Swedish born individuals; and 2) to determine the role of educational level and migrations-related factors in these associations. This register linkage study is based on 682,358 individuals (633,167 Swedish-born, 2,163 unaccompanied and 25,658 accompanied refugees and 21,370 non-refugee immigrants) 19-25 years old, who resided in Sweden 31.12.2004. Outcomes were all-cause mortality and mortality due to suicide and external causes. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox regression models with a maximum follow-up to 2016. After adjusting for covariates, all-cause mortality was significantly lower in non-refugee immigrants (aHR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59-0.84) and refugees (aHR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.88) compared to Swedish-born individuals. The same direction of association was observed for mortality due to suicide and external causes. No differences between accompanied and unaccompanied refugees were found. Risk estimates for all migrant groups varied with educational level, duration of residency, age at arrival and country of birth. Further, the mortality risk of migrants arriving in Sweden before the age of 6 years did not significantly differ from the risk of their Swedish-born peers. Low education was a considerable risk factor. In general, young adult refugees and non-refugee immigrants have a lower risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality than Swedish-born individuals. The identified migrant groups with higher mortality risk need specific attention.

Where the Dewdrops Fall: Shalom International Ministry and the Cultivation of a Twenty-First-Century Missionary Movement

In our roles as lead pastor (Gad Mpoyo) and worshiping member/lay preacher (Jennifer L. Aycock), we have conducted a case study of Shalom International Ministry, a New Worshiping Community in the Presbyterian Church USA. The present and future religious vitality of the United States may be more clearly assessed through measures of participation, leadership, and ownership of congregational and community life by African immigrants and refugees aged twelve to twenty-seven. As African immigrant young adults’ spirituality and personal capacities are cultivated within the life of the church, it empowers them to contribute to American religious life in potentially transformative ways.

Stratified Entry into Illegality: How Immigration Policy Shapes Being Undocumented

Abstract Research shows that legal status is a critical axis of stratification in the United States but is less clear about the variably permeable boundaries around illegality and the systematic ways in which migrants are channeled into and out of the liminal states of illegality. Drawing on analysis of 105 interviews with a diverse group of undocumented or formerly undocumented immigrant young adults in New York City collected in 2018–19, we introduce the concept of stratified entry into illegality to illustrate how migrants’ nationality, race, and socioeconomic status shape their mode of entry which, in turn, shapes opportunities to adjust legal status. Our comparison of migrants who entered the United States without inspection and those who overstayed visas reveals key differences in experience of illegality, including fear of deportation and future plans. We discuss the role of mandatory re-entry bans and hardship waivers on immigrants’ relationships, the “fix” of advance parole for the more privileged Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and the gendered and racialized risks and pressures faced by visa overstayers seeking to adjust their status through marriage. Our comparison of undocumented young adults with and without DACA across mode of entry demonstrates how DACA serves as a class- and race-based filtering mechanism. We embed analysis of stratified entry into illegality within the US immigration regime and a global regime of racialized criminalization of migrants rooted in colonial and neocolonial relations of power and extraction.