Immigration, coping, and well-being: Implications for communities' roles in promoting the well-being of immigrants and refugees

Promoting the well-being of immigrants and refugees is a critical social justice issue for many communities in the United States. The current study investigated how coping strategies and social support promote the well-being of immigrants and refugees. Participants were foreign-born individuals (N=90) in a Midwestern state. The effects of coping strategies (i.e. forward- and trauma-focus coping, instrumental and emotional support seeking) and social support (i.e. personal and community support) on three levels of well-being (i.e. physical, psychological, and relationship) were examined using multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA) and a path analysis. Results showed main effects of forward-focus coping and support seeking on wellbeing. Additionally, community support significantly predicted different coping strategies. Discussion focuses on the roles of coping and social support, as well as the study's implications for the roles of communities in promoting the well-being of immigrants and refugees.