Immigration Policy and Immigrants' Sleep: Evidence from DACA

Osea Giuntella, Jakub Lonsky, Luca Stella () and Fabrizio Mazzonna
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Luca Stella: University of Milan

No 13455, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Stress is associated with sleep problems. And poor sleep is linked with mental health and depression symptoms. The stress associated with immigrant status and immigration policy can directly affect mental health. While previous studies have documented a significant relationship between immigration policy and the physical and mental health of immigrants, we know little about the effects that immigration policy may have on immigrants' sleep patterns. Exploiting the approval of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012, we study how immigrants' sleep behavior responds to a change in immigration policy. Consistent with previous research documenting positive effects of DACA on mental health, we find evidence of a significant improvement in immigrants' sleep in response to this policy change. However, the estimated effects of the policy quickly disappear since 2016. While temporary authorization programs, such as DACA, may have beneficial impacts on immigrants' sleep in the short-term, the effects of temporary programs can be rapidly undermined by the uncertainty on their future. Thus, permanent legalization programs may be more effective in achieving long-term effects, eliminating any uncertainty related to the undocumented immigrant legal status.

Keywords: immigration; sleep; mental health; DACA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 J15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34 pages
Date: 2020-07
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Published - published in: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 2021, 182, 1-12

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Related works:
Journal Article: Immigration policy and immigrants’ sleep. Evidence from DACA (2021)
Working Paper: Immigration Policy and Immigrants’ Sleep. Evidence from DACA (2020)
Working Paper: Immigration Policy and Immigrants’ Sleep. Evidence from DACA (2020)
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