Trauma exposure and mental health outcomes among Central American and Mexican children held in immigration detention at the United States–Mexico border

Abstract

We explored the associations between early‐life adversity and migration‐related stress on the mental health of Central American and Mexican migrating children held in United States immigration detention facilities. Migrating children have high rates of trauma exposure prior to and during migration. Early‐life adversity increases risk for developing mental health disorders. Forced separation of migrating children from their parents at the United States–Mexico border potentially exacerbates this risk. We sought to determine whether exposure to trauma prior to immigration and specific features of immigration detention were associated with posttraumatic stress symptomatology. We interviewed parents of 84 migrating children (ages 1–17) after families were released from immigration detention facilities to assess children's migration‐ and detention‐related experiences. A modified version of the University of California Los Angeles Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Reaction Index was administered to assess children's PTSD symptoms and document trauma exposure. A total of 97.4% of children experienced at least one premigration traumatic event. PTSD symptom severity was most strongly predicted by premigration trauma and duration of parent–child separation. This study contributes to a growing empirical literature documenting that early‐life adversity increases risk of developing mental health disorders, particularly following additional stress exposure, and that remaining with parents during immigration detention may help mitigate children's stress response.

Early Life Adversity and Neuropsychiatric Disease: Differential Outcomes and Translational Relevance of Rodent Models

“…However, even with the broad range of experiences considered to be ELA in these studies, they do not capture the diversity of adversity experienced by the global population or even within the United States. More recent studies have added to the list of adverse childhood experiences that increase the risk of health problems, such as bullying by peers ( Biedermann et al, 2021 ; Iob et al, 2021 ), being involved in an environmental disaster ( Adebäck et al, 2018 ), being treated for a chronic illness ( Bergmans and Smith, 2021 ), being subjected to family separation due to parental incarceration within countries ( Murray and Farrington, 2008 ; Swisher and Shaw-Smith, 2015 ) and at the US-Mexico border ( Teicher, 2018 ; de la Peña et al, 2019 ; MacLean et al, 2020 ; Sidamon-Eristoff et al, 2022 ), economic hardship ( Mawson and Gaysina, 2021 ), neighborhood violence ( van Rooij et al, 2020 ), and racism ( Thomas Tobin and Moody, 2021 ).…”

Neurodevelopmental mechanisms linking early experiences and mental health: Translating science to promote well-being among youth.

“…Together with research on the importance of early intervention, these findings informed policy to guide reunification and were cited prominently in the judge’s ruling that the U.S. government must provide access to mental health care for all separated families (Jordan, 2019). Despite persistent calls to action (Cohodes et al, 2020; Kribakaran & Gee, 2020; Pompa, 2019) and devastating reports of harm (Brabeck et al, 2014; Hampton et al, 2021; MacLean et al, 2019; Sidamon-Eristoff et al, 2022), migrant children and families continue to face separation, detention, and deportation at alarming rates in the United States (Montoya-Galvez, 2022). Developmental and clinical scientists have advocated for key policy recommendations to mitigate harm and increase mental health care access and for systemic changes that would eliminate the infliction of trauma against migrant children in the United States (Cohodes, Kribakaran, et al, 2021).…”

“…In recent years, developmental science has been critical for shaping policy related to the detention and separation of migrant families at the United States-Mexico border resulting from the U.S. government's "zero-tolerance policy" on immigration. Guided by a wealth of evidence demonstrating the consequences of forced parent-child separation on brain development and mental health (Cohodes, Kribakaran, et al, 2021;Sidamon-Eristoff et al, 2022), and the stress-buffering effects of caregivers, developmental scientists significantly contributed to international discussion about this humanitarian crisis (D. G. . Together with research on the importance of early intervention, these findings informed policy to guide reunification and were cited prominently in the judge's ruling that the U.S. government must provide access to mental health care for all separated families (Jordan, 2019).…”

Reactivation of early-life stress-sensitive neuronal ensembles contributes to lifelong stress hypersensitivity

“…Many more children experience other forms of profound stress including death of a caregiver, parental incarceration, displacement due to natural disasters or violence, and socioeconomic disadvantage, indicating a genuine need for a better understanding of the long-lasting neurobiological consequences of childhood maltreatment and stress (Hackman et al, 2010). Studies in humans and animal models indicate that ELS increases risk for anxiety and depression by sensitizing individuals to stress later in life, leading to a first appearance or synergistic worsening of depression-like symptoms after additional stress (McGuinn et al, 2005;McLaughlin et al, 2010;Saxton & Chyu, 2020;Sidamon-Eristoff et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2016). The brain is particularly sensitive to environmental experiences when it is rapidly developing early in life, and evidence suggests that there may be sensitive windows in postnatal development when childhood adversity increases vulnerability to depression (Dunn et al, 2018(Dunn et al, , 2019Peña et al, 2017Peña et al, , 2019.…”