Work

Anti-immigration policy and mental health: Risk of distress and trauma among deferred action for childhood arrivals recipients in the United States.

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between immigration legal status and distress from the announcement of the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program among individuals affected by this potentially traumatic event (PTE), along with identifying relevant risk factors. METHOD: = 233) affected by the termination announcement provided cross-sectional self-reports on distress from the announcement that was measured using the Impact of Events Scale-Revised. RESULTS: < .001) were significantly associated with distress. CONCLUSION: The future of DACA recipients is uncertain, which can be trauma inducing. The field of psychology needs to make space for this kind of experience as potentially traumatic. Advocacy efforts to shift immigration policies can be strengthened to alter the negative effects of the potential termination of DACA on those affected by it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy

DOI: 10.1037/tra0001228