Childhood immigration enforcement exposure and young adults’ anxiety: A mixed methods study

Abstract

Background

Immigration enforcement has caused adverse effects on the mental health of children of affected families. However, its long-term impact is not well understood. This mixed methods study defines severe immigrant enforcement during childhood and examines its association with mental health in young adulthood.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with young adults aged 18 to 34. After the interviews, the participants were asked to complete a quantitative survey with anxiety and depression measures. The study sample consists of 71 young adults who were interviewed and then completed the survey. The majority of the participants (75 %) identify as Hispanic. We used several criteria to determine what constitutes severe exposure to enforcement during childhood, including severity, chronicity, and timing of exposure.

Results

Eighteen respondents (26.4 %), all of whom were Hispanic except for one, were considered to have had severe and impactful experiences with enforcement during their childhood. Two case studies illustrate severe enforcement experience and how it can adversely affect family functioning. Having experienced severe enforcement exposure during childhood is then shown to be significantly associated with current anxiety among young adults (AOR = 4.43).

Conclusions

The study supports calls for reforming immigration policies that unnecessarily harm members of families, especially citizen children, and encourages social workers and allied professionals to recognize exposure to enforcement as a traumatic experience and advocate for the mental health service needs of children and young adults raised in immigrant families.