Correlates of Immigration-Related Stress and Perceived Social Support Among Latino Immigrants

Background/Purpose. Latino immigration often yields improved well-being. Yet, the immigration process, which can be conceptualized as having three stages, exposes individuals to a multitude of stressors during the pre-migration, migration, and post-migration stages. Pre-migration stressors occur in the home country, migration stressors are endured during travel, and post-migration stressors are present in the United States. Social support is often found to be a protective factor for coping with such stressors. Despite a growing body of literature on immigration-related stress and on social support among Latino immigrants, we have a limited understanding of whether Latino immigrants endure immigration-stressors differently or which factors most correlate with social support for this population. This study aims to shed light on Latino immigrant experiences of stress during immigration and the extent to which variation exists related to degree of social support.

Methods. Adult Latino immigrants (N= 100) were recruited and surveyed in a southeastern state. The survey was designed to assess immigration-related experiences before and after arrival in the United Sates. The number of discrete stressors encountered during each immigration stage was assessed through a multiple-item scale asking participants to indicate whether they had encountered common immigration-related stressors. The cumulative number of stressors during each stage served as dependent variables for negative binomial regression analyses and a latent class analysis. Perceived social support was measured using the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12 (ISEL-12). Multiple regression was employed to examine correlates of perceived social support. Independent variables included length of time spent in the United States and demographic measures.

Results. Most participants were female (68%) and from Mexico (85%), with a mean age of 38 years. Participants reported enduring a median of 1 (IQR = 1-3) stressor during pre-migration, 0 (IQR = 0-1) during the migration stage, and 3 (IQR = 2-4) during post-migration. Negative binomial regression analyses found that males reported more discrete stressors during pre-migration and migration stages, older participants reported more pre-migration stressors, and more time in the United States correlated with a higher number of post-migration stressors. Latent class analysis found two distinct classes of Latino immigrants in regard to immigration-related stressors. Class 1 consisted of the majority (94%) of the sample, who reported fewer stressors during each immigration stage. Class 2 participants reported more stressors, were more likely male, slightly older, and had a lower rate of completing high school than Class 1 participants. In terms of social support, participants who were older, married/cohabitating, and who had fewer discrete stressors in the United States reported higher social support.

Conclusions and Implications. Findings shed light on Latino immigrant characteristics that might be associated with greater vulnerability in regard to more incidents of stress and to lower levels of social support. Though additional research with larger samples and a longitudinal design is needed to further explore these findings, social workers engaged with Latino immigrants might build on protective factors (e.g., education) and pay particular attention to vulnerabilities associated with lower social support and more distinct stressors.