Social Work in Public Health
Volume 34, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 279-292

Immigration Stress among Recent Latino Immigrants: The Protective Role of Social Support and Religious Social Capital (Article)

Sanchez M.* , Diez S. , Fava N.M. , Cyrus E. , Ravelo G. , Rojas P. , Li T. , Cano M.A. , De La Rosa M.
  • a Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Robert Stempel, College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Robert Stempel College of Public, Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • b Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Robert Stempel, College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • c School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • d Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • e Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Robert Stempel, College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • f Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Robert Stempel, College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Robert Stempel College of Public, Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • g Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • h Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Robert Stempel, College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • i Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Robert Stempel, College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States

Abstract

Religious institutions can be a source of support for recent Latino immigrants struggling to adjust to a new culture. For undocumented immigrants, who are often marginalized from other formal institutions, they may symbolize a place of refuge and hope through supportive social networks that mitigate common challenges such as social isolation and other forms of immigration stress. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of religious social capital and social support on immigration stress among documented and undocumented recent Latino immigrants (N = 408). Religious social capital was associated with higher levels of social support, while social support was protective against immigration stress. Social support mediated associations between religious social capital and immigration stress, but only among undocumented immigrants. Findings suggest religious social capital may be a particularly useful resource for undocumented immigrants, aiding in the provision of social support and in decreasing levels of immigration stress. Future research directions and implications for culturally tailored service delivery are presented. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Social support immigrants immigration stress Latino/a religiosity Social capital

Index Keywords

human major clinical study immigrant social network social capital refuge social support cross-sectional study Article health care delivery immigration social isolation undocumented immigrant Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85065208461&doi=10.1080%2f19371918.2019.1606749&partnerID=40&md5=a540d96b4100dbd0f19e6e37dfdc4186
DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2019.1606749
ISSN: 19371918
Original Language: English