Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of Inclusion

Previous research on immigrant integration indicates that contextual factors, such as access to health services, often lead to varying levels of immigrant incorporation and feelings of inclusion. Research has demonstrated the link between inclusion and physical health but less is known about the con...

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Main Authors: Samantha Chapa, Jeronimo Cortina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Psychology International
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9844/7/2/35
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author Samantha Chapa
Jeronimo Cortina
author_facet Samantha Chapa
Jeronimo Cortina
author_sort Samantha Chapa
collection DOAJ
description Previous research on immigrant integration indicates that contextual factors, such as access to health services, often lead to varying levels of immigrant incorporation and feelings of inclusion. Research has demonstrated the link between inclusion and physical health but less is known about the connection between mental health and immigrant inclusion. In this study, we examine the impact of the prevalence of mental health issues at the county level on immigrants’ perceptions of inclusion. We propose that a lower prevalence of mental health issues at the county level is associated with improved perceptions of inclusion among immigrants. To explore this relationship, we analyze data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, which covers feelings of immigrant inclusion from a racially and geographically diverse sample of immigrants across the United States. We pair these data with CDC PLACES data on the crude prevalence of mental health issues at the county level. Our findings reveal an association between the crude prevalence of mental health issues at the county level and immigrants’ feelings of inclusion. Through this analysis, we underscore the significance of understanding the contextual determinants that shape migrants’ perceptions of inclusion.
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spelling doaj-art-8f6e57e362b64bf99cac10e29d5eb01c2025-06-25T14:21:53ZengMDPI AGPsychology International2813-98442025-04-01723510.3390/psycholint7020035Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of InclusionSamantha Chapa0Jeronimo Cortina1Department of Political Science, College of Liberal Arts and Social Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USADepartment of Political Science, College of Liberal Arts and Social Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USAPrevious research on immigrant integration indicates that contextual factors, such as access to health services, often lead to varying levels of immigrant incorporation and feelings of inclusion. Research has demonstrated the link between inclusion and physical health but less is known about the connection between mental health and immigrant inclusion. In this study, we examine the impact of the prevalence of mental health issues at the county level on immigrants’ perceptions of inclusion. We propose that a lower prevalence of mental health issues at the county level is associated with improved perceptions of inclusion among immigrants. To explore this relationship, we analyze data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, which covers feelings of immigrant inclusion from a racially and geographically diverse sample of immigrants across the United States. We pair these data with CDC PLACES data on the crude prevalence of mental health issues at the county level. Our findings reveal an association between the crude prevalence of mental health issues at the county level and immigrants’ feelings of inclusion. Through this analysis, we underscore the significance of understanding the contextual determinants that shape migrants’ perceptions of inclusion.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9844/7/2/35immigrant integrationinclusionmental healthwellbeing
spellingShingle Samantha Chapa
Jeronimo Cortina
Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of Inclusion
Psychology International
immigrant integration
inclusion
mental health
wellbeing
title Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of Inclusion
title_full Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of Inclusion
title_fullStr Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of Inclusion
title_full_unstemmed Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of Inclusion
title_short Mental Health and Immigrant Perceptions of Inclusion
title_sort mental health and immigrant perceptions of inclusion
topic immigrant integration
inclusion
mental health
wellbeing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9844/7/2/35
work_keys_str_mv AT samanthachapa mentalhealthandimmigrantperceptionsofinclusion
AT jeronimocortina mentalhealthandimmigrantperceptionsofinclusion