"I am affected in all the ways … ": A phenomenographic analysis of Latinx adolescents' perceptions of family separations at the border.

This phenomenographic analysis examines how news of family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border shaped variations of experience and perceptions among U.S. Latinx adolescents across parental residency status. In 2018-2019, 340 15-18-year-old Latinx adolescents in the Washington D.C. area participated in a study on immigration actions and responded to an open-ended question detailing how news of family separations at the border affected them and their families. The sample was comprised of equivalent numbers of adolescents whose parents had U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, temporary protected status, or were undocumented. Utilizing a phenomenographic analysis, we compared data across the participants' parental residency status. Three categories captured the complex influences that news of family separations had on Latinx adolescents not directly affected. Perceptual Experiencing described the sympathetic and vicarious emotions produced by the news of family separations. Lived Experiencing described the tangible effects experienced by participants, including incidents of increased racism and fear. Catalyzing effects described spillover effects of the first two themes where internalized feelings induced fear and catalyzed family behaviors. All themes were noted across residency status; however, the third was most strongly supported by those whose parents had precarious statuses. Findings suggest Latinx families across residency statuses can be negatively affected by news of the adversities experienced by a subgroup. Service and healthcare providers, and educators must be prepared to support Latinx youth faced with fear, discrimination, and isolation arising from exposure to news on immigration actions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).