Graduation Year
2024
Date of Submission
12-2023
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
Reader 1
Mark Costanzo
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Rights Information
2023 Oscar J Gonzalez
Abstract
Immigration to the United States, particularly from Mexico, has resulted in a significant population of undocumented individuals residing in the nation. Among them are those who arrived in the U.S. as children, with some eligible for protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, offering temporary relief from deportation and government benefits. This thesis analyzes the historical context of immigration and the DACA program, focusing on the often-overlooked experiences and mental health realities encountered by Mexican DACA recipients. These experiences encompass the pursuit of the American Dream, deportation fears, family separation, challenges in accessing government services, navigating the role of a first-generation student, cultural stigma, and encountering prejudiced social dynamics. The primary findings reveal that Mexican DACA recipients contend with numerous mental health struggles, including heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations, stemming from the complexities of their legal status and its impact on their daily lives, and that of their families. To address this mental health crisis, this thesis proposes policy recommendations and outlines steps for future research.
Recommended Citation
Gonzalez, Oscar Javier, "Analyzing the Mental Health Realities Among DACA Recipients Within the Mexican Community" (2024). CMC Senior Theses. 3425.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3425
Included in
Chicana/o Studies Commons, Latina/o Studies Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Other Psychology Commons
