Perceptions of legal status: Associations with psychosocial experiences among undocumented Latino/a immigrants.
In the present study we used a mixed-method design to examine perceptions of legal status and their association with psychosocial experiences among undocumented Latino/a immigrants in the United States Participants were asked to compare their perceived social experiences with those of documented Latinos/as in order to determine whether differences in such perceptions might emerge and whether such perceptions might differentially impact well-being. A community sample of 140 self-reported undocumented Latino/a immigrants completed questionnaires measuring perceptions of legal status, well-being (global and psychological), perceived context of reception, and experiences of discrimination. Results indicated that individuals who perceived their experiences as different from those of documented Latinos/as due to an unauthorized legal status reported less social equality as evidenced by lower well-being, increased experiences of discrimination, and a more adverse context of reception. Moreover, individuals who perceived their social experiences as different from those of documented Latinos/as due to their legal status reported issues centering on 2 domains: limited opportunity/restricted social mobility and discrimination/unfair treatment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in terms of advancing theory and from a multicultural counseling perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record
Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Central Arkansas.
Cory L
CL
Cobb
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami.
Alan
0000-0002-3272-7701
A
Meca
Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Central Arkansas.
Dong
D
Xie
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami.
Seth J
SJ
Schwartz
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami.
Rhoda K
RK
Moise
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001131:Arkansas; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063505:Racism / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012937:Social Mobility; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D000069756:Undocumented Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult