Critical Agency and Vocational Outcome Expectations as Coping Mechanisms Among Undocumented Immigrant Students

Undocumented immigrant students face a number of structural barriers that keep most from accessing and completing college. Those attending college experience ongoing discrimination on campus, influenced by recent anti-immigrant sociopolitical hostility. The current study examined the link between everyday discrimination and anxiety among 171 undocumented college students. A serial mediation model was constructed and tested to examine the role of critical agency and vocational outcome expectations as coping mechanisms in this link. Results suggest that higher experiences of everyday discrimination were linked to higher anxiety. Additionally, critical agency and vocational outcome expectations functioned collectively as protective coping mechanisms to resist everyday discrimination and protect students' psychological well-being. We provide recommendations for mental health providers, educators and higher education leaders, community groups, and policymakers to support undocumented students in developing higher critical agency and vocational outcome expectations. Public Significance Statement This study found that experiences of everyday discrimination are linked to higher anxiety among undocumented college students. The study also found evidence that critical agency to address social injustice and vocational outcome expectations serve as coping mechanisms to buffer the effects of discrimination. Recommendations are made for mental health providers, higher education leaders, community groups and policymakers to support undocumented students during the current period of increased hostility toward immigrants.