Psychological strain and social dislocation among undocumented Pakistani migrants living in Italy

Abstract Undocumented migrants are exposed to multiple stressors before, during and after migration, yet the psychological and social consequences of irregular migration for Pakistani labor migrants in Southern Europe remain poorly understood. This study explores how undocumented Pakistani migrants in Italy experience and interprets the mental health and social impacts of living with irregular legal status. A qualitative design was adopted. Twenty-five undocumented Pakistani migrants residing in Bari, Southern Italy, participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in Urdu and Punjabi. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, informed by trauma, acculturation stress, minority stress and social capital perspectives. Four interrelated themes were identified: (1) trauma and ongoing insecurity linked to hazardous migration journeys, fear of arrest, detention or deportation, and chronic legal uncertainty; (2) psychological distress and identity disruption, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, loneliness and loss of valued social roles; (3) precarious work, discrimination and social exclusion, characterized by labor exploitation, everyday racism and barriers to language learning, healthcare and welfare services; and (4) resilience and coping, drawing on religious faith, transnational family ties, co-ethnic networks and support from local organizations. The findings show how irregular legal status acts as a persistent social determinant of mental health, generating acute and chronic forms of psychological distress. The study highlights the need for trauma-aware and culturally sensitive mental health and social care responses, robust linguistic and social integration programs, and policy measures that reduce legal uncertainty and support the social inclusion of irregular migrants in Italy.