Coping Styles and Depression Among Undocumented Hispanic Immigrants.
This cross-sectional study examined coping strategies and their relationship with depression among undocumented Hispanic immigrants. A community sample of 122 self-identified undocumented Hispanics filled out questionnaires measuring coping and depression. The authors categorized coping strategies as problem-focused, active-emotional, or avoidant-emotional. Findings indicated that coping through "prayer and meditation" (problem-focused), "get comfort from someone" (active-emotional), and "see bad things positively" (active-emotional) were more frequently used by undocumented Hispanics. Contrary to past research and predictions, problem-focused and active-emotional coping were both positively related to depression. What is more, problem-focused coping accounted for additional variance of depression above and beyond active-emotional coping. The insoluble nature of many of the problems faced by undocumented immigrants may explain the counterintuitive finding that as problem-focused and active-emotional coping increased, so too did depression.
Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR, 72035, USA. ccobb5@cub.uca.edu.
Cory L
CL
Cobb
Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR, 72035, USA.
Dong
D
Xie
Pulaski Technical College, 3000 West Scenic Drive, North Little Rock, AR, 72118, USA.
Gardiner L
GL
Sanders
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069756:Undocumented Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Coping; Depression; Emotion-focused; Problem-focused; Undocumented hispanics