Honors Program
Honors Program: Theses
First Advisor
Trey Andrews
Second Advisor
Julia McQuillan
Date of this Version
Spring 3-31-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Citation
Rodriguez, K. 2025. The Role of Fear of Deportation and Perceived Discrimination on Mental Health Outcomes and Service Utilization among Hispanic Immigrant Nebraskan Women. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Abstract
The 2024 US elections stirred up the anti-immigration movement in the US, thus exacerbating the culture of fear around immigration among immigrant communities. Hispanic immigrant women in the US are an underserved and marginalized group that experiences health challenges associated with immigration. These challenges may be linked with fear of deportation and perceived discrimination. This project examined the role of fear of deportation and perceived discrimination on the service utilization and mental health outcomes of Hispanic immigrant Nebraskan women. The sample consists of a convenience sample of 111 Nebraskan immigrant Latinx women. Participants completed a series of questionnaires, including frequency of discrimination exposure (Everyday Discrimination Scale), fear of deportation (human rights questionnaire), depression symptomology (Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-9), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology (PTSD Checklist from the DSM-5), and a mental health service utilization questionnaire. Bivariate correlations and general linear modeling were used to examine the associations of FOD, discrimination, depression, PTSD, and mental health service utilization. Findings indicate that FOD is predictive of discrimination and that discrimination is predictive of depression and PTSD in this population. Findings contribute to an understanding of the consequences of immigration-related stressors (FOD and perceived discrimination) on mental health service utilization and mental health outcomes among this population. Findings help identify methods for mitigating barriers to healthcare access and utilization for Nebraskan immigrant women.
Comments
Copyright Karen Rodriguez 2025