A latent profile analysis of U.S. undocumented college students’ advocacy communication strategies and its relationship with health

Abstract

Undocumented immigrant youth engage in a range of advocacy efforts to improve their social condition. Deploying an expanded definition of advocacy communication, we examine the heterogeneity of undocumented college students' participation and assess the extent to which these actions are associated with their health. The present study (a) identified profiles of undocumented college students based on their participation in various forms of advocacy communication strategies; and, (b) examined how these advocacy communication profiles are associated with health (i.e., anxiety, depression, and self-rated health). Latent profile analysis of 1,277 undocumented, mostly Latina/o/x, college students in California identified four profiles. Results indicated that frequent advocators had lower levels of self-rated health and higher levels of anxiety and depression than infrequent advocators. Similarly, media advocators reported higher levels of anxiety and depression than infrequent advocators. Finally, organizational advocators reported lower levels of anxiety than media advocators and frequent advocators. Our study advances research on the relationship between advocacy communication and health. We provide concrete suggestions that university staff and undocumented student services programs can take to support the advocacy efforts and health of undocumented students.