Objective: Latinx immigrants are at risk for migration-related trauma that can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among parents in immigrant families with undocumented family member(s) (i.e., mixed-status), risk for PTSD may be exacerbated by policies that threaten family separation and exclude immigrants from systems of support. Understanding these relationships in context is important to equip practitioners to address traumatic stress in this population.
Method: Our community-based participatory research (CBPR), mixed-methods study explored migration-related trauma and PTSD among Latinx immigrant parents in a restrictive immigration climate during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted 145 surveys with Latinx parents in mixed-status families and conducted multivariable linear analyses to test if immigration policy vulnerability strengthened the relationship between migration-related trauma and PTSD symptoms. Then, we conducted 15 interviews with frontline workers serving Latinx immigrant families to contextualize the relationships between migration-related trauma, immigration-related policies, and PTSD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: Parent surveys revealed was no observed relationship between premigration-related trauma and PTSD symptoms (β = 0.12, p = .15). However, increases in policy vulnerability was associated with PTSD symptoms (β = 0.25, p < .01) and strengthened the relationship between postmigration trauma and PTSD symptoms (β = 0.19, p = .03). Frontline workers described how social isolation due to immigration-related policies worsened under the COVID-19 pandemic and deportation fears remained a constant stressor.
Conclusions: Results from our CBPR study highlight the need for policies and practices that address compounding effects of migration-related trauma, policy vulnerability, and the COVID-19 pandemic to promote mental health equity among Latinx immigrant families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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