An Examination of Risk and Protective Factors on the Mental Health of First- and Second-generation Immigrant Adults during an Exclusionary Policy Context in the United States

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the impacts of three risk factors (i.e., Trump-era policy stress, incidents of discrimination, and COVID-19 exposure) and two protective factors (i.e., resilience and social support) on mental health status.

Methods

Data were collected via an online survey with first- and second-generation immigrant adults (n = 447). Hierarchical linear regression was employed to assess the risk and protective factors, in addition to demographic characteristics, on anxiety and depression scores.

Results

Trump-era policy stress and discrimination predicted higher symptoms of both anxiety and depression. In terms of protective factors, resilience and social support each had a significant inverse relationship with anxiety and depression scores.

Conclusion

Findings contribute to the knowledge base of risk and protective factors during a stringent immigration policy context and pandemic in the United States.

Discussion

Implications for practice, research, and policymaking are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Immigration policy stress
• COVID-19
• resilience
• mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.