Application of the Minority Stress Theory: Understanding the Mental Health of Undocumented Latinx Immigrants

This paper applies the Minority Stress framework to data collected from an ongoing community- based participatory research project with health and social service agencies in Southeast Michigan. We examine the stressors and coping strategies employed by undocumented Latinx immigrants and their families to manage immigration- related stress. We conducted in- depth interviews with 23 immigrant clients at Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHC) in Southeast Michigan and 28 in- depth interviews with staff at two FQHC’s and a non- profit agency serving immigrants. Findings suggest that immigrants face heightened anxiety and adverse mental health outcomes because of unique minority identity- related stressors created by a growing anti- immigrant social environment. Chronic stress experienced stems from restrictive immigration policies, anti- immigrant rhetoric in the media and by political leaders, fear of deportation, discriminatory events, concealment, and internalized anti- immigrant sentiment. Though identity can be an important effect modifier in the stress process, social isolation in the immigrant community has heightened the impact of stress and impeded coping strategies. These stressors have resulted in distrust in community resources, uncertainty about future health benefits, delayed medical care, and adverse mental health outcomes. Findings provide a framework for understanding the unique stressors experienced by immigrants and strategies for interventions by social service agencies.HighlightsMental health disparities affecting undocumented Latinx immigrants.Novel application of Minority Stress Theory to a marginalized population.Effect of current sociopolitical climate on Latinx immigrants and their families.Stressors at multiple levels affecting undocumented Latinx immigrant populations and their families.Community- based participatory approaches to public health research and practice.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163941/1/ajcp12455_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163941/2/ajcp12455.pd

First Exploration of Neutron Shell Structure Below Lead and Beyond N = 126

The nuclei below lead but with more than 126 neutrons are crucial to an understanding of the astrophysical r-process in producing nuclei heavier than A ~ 190. Despite their importance, the structure and properties of these nuclei remain experimentally untested as they are difficult to produce in nuclear reactions with stable beams. In a first exploration of the shell structure of this region, neutron excitations in 207Hg have been probed using the neutron-adding (d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics. The radioactive beam of 206Hg was delivered to the new ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer at an energy above the Coulomb barrier. The spectroscopy of 207Hg marks a first step in improving our understanding of the relevant structural properties of nuclei involved in a key part of the path of the r-process