A Latent Profile Analysis of Undocumented College Students’ Protection-Oriented Family Communication and Strengths-Based Psychological Coping

Drawing from resilience theory, this study explored subgroups of undocumented college students (UCS) based on their patterns of protection-oriented family communication and strengths-based psychological coping. Using survey data from 237 UCS, latent profile analyses revealed three subgroups. Safe optimistic copers reported occasional documentation-seeking and know-your-rights communication, but higher means in prevention and right path communication, as well as optimistic coping. Comprehensive copers scored moderately high in all types of protection-oriented communication and psychological coping. Strengths-based psychological copers infrequently engaged in protection-oriented communication, yet they scored moderately to moderately high in positive psychological coping. Compared to the other two profiles, safe optimistic copers reported the worst wellbeing (highest mean anxiety, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbances; lowest mean perceived health and wellbeing). Comprehensive copers fared worse in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbances compared to strengths-based psychological copers; however, comprehensive copers reported greater wellbeing, perceived health, and academic motivation.