DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/A8DP-ZX06

Defense Date

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Oswaldo Moreno

Second Advisor

Dr. Rosalie Corona

Third Advisor

Dr. Jason Chow

Abstract

Immigrant-origin Latine young adults (ILYAs) face a challenge that is specific to their developmental period. As ILYAs transition from high school to beyond (e.g., workforce, college, etc.), they begin to grapple with participating in normative experiences for all young adults in the U.S. (e.g., obtaining a driver’s license, getting their first job at 16). The lives of ILYA, particularly those who are DACAmented or DACA eligible, are characterized by the legal and social contradiction that arises from growing up in the U.S. yet facing barriers to full participation in U.S. society. The nonexistent synthesis of the exponentially growing literature in this area, therefore, leads to an inaccurate depiction of the anxiety-based outcomes in ILYAs residing in the U.S. The goal of the present study is to summarize, by means of meta-analysis, previous research on anxiety in immigrant-origin Latine young adults within the context of challenges surrounding DACA in order to understand the associations among these variables and sociodemographic moderators to identify the impact of this policy has on well-being. A final sample of six studies that contained a total participant sample of 2,583 (Mage = 22.8) was collected. All studies were published within the last three years and passed an assessment of bias and quality checklist. Findings indicated a small-sized effect of the anxiety-challenges relationship that was not significant. Moderator models were conducted for age, sex, and geographic location, in which geographic location was the only significant moderator for the observed correlation. Findings reinforce that DACAmented ILYAs are resilient in the face of an already precarious, uncertain position in society. Finally, clinical, research, and policy implications are discussed.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

5-11-2022

Included in

Psychology Commons

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