Assessing Mental Health Vulnerability Among First- and Second-Generation Immigrants During the Trump Administration

Abstract

Under the Trump administration, many immigrants struggled with exclusionary policies that created a climate of fear and uncertainty. Our aim was to investigate which immigrants may be more vulnerable for experiencing policy stress and discrimination during this time period. Employing a cross-sectional design, we recruited U.S. immigrants (N = 490) to complete an online survey assessing experiences of policy-related stress and discrimination. Multiple regression results showed significant models for both outcome variables, with several vulnerabilities emerging. For policy stress, immigrants who were younger, non-white, and who lived in a household with a lower annual income were more vulnerable. Participants who were second-generation immigrants, younger, male, and non-white reported higher perceived discrimination. Findings suggest that the stress associated with policies and experiences of discrimination varied within the immigrant community, and implications for practice and policy work are discussed.