The purpose of the study was to examine differences between documented and undocumented Latino immigrants in the prevalence of three immigration-related challenges (separation from family, traditionality, and language difficulties), which were made more severe after the passage of restrictive immigration legislation in 1996. Specifically, the study sought to determine the combined and unique associations of legal status, the three immigration-related challenges listed above, and fear of deportation to acculturative stress related to family and other social contexts. Participants in the study consisted of 416 documented and undocumented Mexican and Central American immigrants living in two major cities in Texas. The Hispanic Stress Inventory—Immigrant form was used to assess acculturative stress in the sample. Results indicated that although undocumented immigrants reported higher levels of the immigration challenges of separation from family, traditionality, and language difficulties than documented immigrants, both groups reported similar levels of fear of deportation. Results also indicated that the immigration challenges and undocumented status were uniquely associated with extrafamilial acculturative stress but not with intrafamilial acculturative stress. Only fear of deportation emerged as a unique predictor of both extrafamililal and intrafamilial acculturative stress.

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) refers to the tendency to fear the unknown and to worry excessively about potential future negative outcomes. In the career decision-making process, college students experience uncertainty regarding the future of occupational opportunities and the evolution of their interests and capabilities. Anxiety is a well-established predictor of career indecision. Therefore, this study examined the role of anxiety as a mediator in the relation of IU and rumination to three dimensions of career decision making difficulties among college students (N = 678). Results of path analyses indicated that as hypothesized, after controlling for age, intolerance of uncertainty was directly and indirectly (though anxiety) related to the three dimensions of career decision making difficulties: lack of readiness, lack of information, and inconsistent information. Results suggested that career choice interventions may be enhanced with a targeted emphasis on coping with the uncertainty involved in career decision making among college students.

Little is known regarding the mental health of women firefighters. To identify demographic, work-related and mental health characteristics associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and lifetime suicidal ideation in female firefighters compared with male colleagues. Participants were firefighters (75 women and 2564 men) employed in a large urban fire department in the USA. Chi-square, correlations, t-tests and analyses of variance were conducted to examine the predictors of PTSD symptoms and lifetime suicide ideation in men and women. Approximately 20% of women scored positively for PTSD and 30% reported lifetime suicidal ideation. Women with PTSD symptoms were more likely to be in their mid-career years (11–20) than in their first 10 years (87% versus 44%; χ² = 8.77, P < 0.05) and to have received counselling (53% versus 14%; χ² = 8.11, P < 0.01). Being single (73% versus 58%; χ² = 6.02, P < 0.05), having a second job (68% versus 38%; χ² = 5.79, P < 0.05) and having received counselling (41% versus 11%; χ² = 8.51, P < 0.01) predicted suicide ideation. Depression and general stress positively predicted PTSD symptoms and suicide ideation. PTSD also predicted suicide ideation. Compared to male firefighters, women were at high risk for PTSD symptoms and suicide ideation. Particularly for women, few socio-demographic and work-related variables were associated with these outcomes. Mental health variables predicted depression and suicide ideation for both gender groups. Therefore, in screening and intervention efforts, it may be most fruitful to focus on mental health risk correlates of PTSD and suicide ideation.

This study examined the association of the four posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance, dysphoria, and hyperarousal) included in the Dysphoria factor model to depression, substance abuse, and general stress among 551 male, Hispanic firefighters in a large metropolitan city in the United States. Approximately 11% of the participants demonstrated elevated PTSD compared with a 7% PTSD prevalence rate in the U.S. Hispanic population. Results of bivariate correlations and regression analyses indicated that, as expected, the dysphoria cluster captured a general distress dimension common to other affective disorders, whereas re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal symptoms demonstrated stronger specificity to depression than to substance abuse or general stress. Findings suggest that treatment approaches to PTSD with Hispanics should include interventions such as behavioral activation, which are designed to address non-specific distress.