Mental Health of Undocumented Immigrant Adults in the United States: A Systematic Review of Methodology and Findings

Abstract

This study systematically reviewed the methodology and findings of 24 peer-reviewed studies on psychosocial risk factors associated with the mental health of undocumented immigrants (UIs) in the United States. Of these studies, 14 included quantitative data and 13 were qualitative. The most common recruitment methods were snowball techniques, and most studies used convenience samples of recent UI Latinos. The method of assessing legal status varied, including current versus retrospective undocumented status. Psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and substance use/abuse were identified as prevalent themes. Studies with enhanced methodological rigor are needed.

Keywords:

• Undocumented
• immigrant
• mental health
• stress
• Latinos

Note

1.Terms selected for the literature search were undocumented OR legal status OR immigrant OR immigration, AND mental health OR depression OR anxiety OR psychiatric illness OR emotional health OR psychiatric disorder, AND United States.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided to Luz Garcini by the Ford Diversity Fellowship.