Title

Psychological Homelessness and Enculturative Stress among US-Deported Salvadorans: A Preliminary Study with a Novel Approach

Authors

Authors

C. Negy; A. Reig-Ferrer; M. Gaborit;C. J. Ferguson

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Immigr. Minor. Health

Keywords

Undocumented immigrants; Psychological homelessness; Enculturative; stress; Maladaptive cognitions; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the construct psychological homelessness-feelings of not belonging in one's home country-within the context of deported Salvadorans' enculturation to El Salvador. Participants (n = 66) who had been deported from the United States completed a set of questionnaires related to their deportation experience. Results indicated that deportees, in various degrees, experienced the phenomenon of psychological homelessness and enculturative stress related to living in El Salvador. As hypothesized, enculturative stress related to re-adapting to life in El Salvador significantly correlated with psychological homelessness after controlling for time spent in the United States, acculturation, and enculturation. Additional analyses revealed that maladaptive cognitions related to the deportation experience also predicted psychological homelessness. Our findings suggest psychological homelessness appears to be a valid construct and is experienced by many undocumented immigrants.

Journal Title

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

Volume

16

Issue/Number

6

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

1278

Last Page

1283

WOS Identifier

WOS:000344549800030

ISSN

1557-1912

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