Abstract
This cross-sectional study examined coping strategies and their relationship with depression among undocumented Hispanic immigrants. A community sample of 122 self-identified undocumented Hispanics filled out questionnaires measuring coping and depression. The authors categorized coping strategies as problem-focused, active-emotional, or avoidant-emotional. Findings indicated that coping through “prayer and meditation” (problem-focused), “get comfort from someone” (active-emotional), and “see bad things positively” (active-emotional) were more frequently used by undocumented Hispanics. Contrary to past research and predictions, problem-focused and active-emotional coping were both positively related to depression. What is more, problem-focused coping accounted for additional variance of depression above and beyond active-emotional coping. The insoluble nature of many of the problems faced by undocumented immigrants may explain the counterintuitive finding that as problem-focused and active-emotional coping increased, so too did depression.
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Cobb, C.L., Xie, D. & Sanders, G.L. Coping Styles and Depression Among Undocumented Hispanic Immigrants. J Immigrant Minority Health 18, 864–870 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0270-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0270-5