Psychosocial Stressors of Unauthorized and Authorized Latine Immigrants: Psychological Well-Being

Latine immigrants may experience a heightened degree of stress related to their immigration status. This is particularly true for immigrants who are in the country unauthorized. Individuals who are unauthorized may experience unique psychosocial stress compared to authorized individuals. This cross-sectional study examined differences in psychosocial stressors and four measures of well-being by immigration status. Authorized and unauthorized immigrants were surveyed to assess differences in psychosocial stressors and the impact of authorization status on well-being. Based on the findings, unauthorized Latine immigrants experienced more psychosocial stressors compared to authorized immigrants with regard to migration, fear of discovery, employment concerns, legal issues, and limited access to services. No differences were found in other measures of well-being. Unauthorized immigrants experienced more psychosocial stressors compared to their authorized counterparts; however, this did not have implications for their overall mental health. Findings suggest the resilience and strength of the Latine immigrant population.