Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 60, Issue 6, 2017, Pages 741-746

The Influence of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals on Undocumented Asian and Pacific Islander Young Adults: Through a Social Determinants of Health Lens (Article) (Open Access)

Sudhinaraset M.* , To T.M. , Ling I. , Melo J. , Chavarin J.
  • a Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
  • c School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
  • d Division of Global Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, La Jolla, California, United States
  • e The California Endowment, Sacramento, California, United States

Abstract

Purpose There is an urgent need to provide evidence-based policies to address the health of the 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) offers temporary relief to qualified undocumented immigrants. Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs), in particular, are the fastest growing immigrant population; yet, little is known about their health challenges. This article examines the influence of DACA on the health of API undocumented young adults. Methods In total, 32 unique participants participated in 24 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions. Participants were aged 18–31 years and identified as undocumented API. Results DACA potentially improves health outcomes through four potential social determinants: economic stability, educational opportunities, social and community contexts, and access to health care. These determinants improve the mental health and sense of well-being among undocumented young adults. Conclusions Targeted outreach and education in communities should be informed by these research findings with an eye toward promoting the economic, education, and health benefits of enrolling in DACA. Social policies that address the social determinants of health have significant potential to address health inequities. © 2017 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

Author Keywords

social determinants of health Immigrant health Asians and Pacific Islanders Health access Mental health Young adult social policy

Index Keywords

Asian mental health human wellbeing community Asian continental ancestry group social determinants of health priority journal Undocumented Immigrants childhood interview United States Young Adult Humans undocumented immigrant Adolescent male female Pacific Islander Article adult health education public policy Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85016211424&doi=10.1016%2fj.jadohealth.2017.01.008&partnerID=40&md5=e69ad097815d10f88ad8ff49fab4b5d7
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.01.008
ISSN: 1054139X
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English