Document Type

Research Paper

Date of Completion

Summer 7-26-2026

Department

​Behavioral Sciences

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Kathy Helpenstill

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Usenime Akpanudo

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between sense of safety and quality of life among Hispanic/Latinx immigrant communities. The study sought to determine whether perceived sense of safety was associated with quality of life and whether differences existed based on immigration status, gender, and age. A quantitative, non-experimental survey design was used with a convenience sample of 33 first- and second-generation Hispanic immigrants from Arkansas. Participants completed a survey combining the Immigrant Enforcement Fear Scale and the 10-Item Well-being Instrument, which were translated into Spanish to increase accessibility. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and independent-samples t-tests with an alpha level of .05. Results indicated a positive but statistically non-significant relationship between sense of safety and quality of life, r(31) = .31, p = .076. No significant differences were found in quality of life between U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens, t(31) = −1.03, p = .309, or in sense of safety between these groups, t(31) = −1.98, p = .057. Additionally, no significant difference was found in sense of safety between female and male participants, t(31) = 0.43, p = .670. Age was also not significantly related to sense of safety, r(30) = −.12, p = .531. Although the findings did not provide statistically significant evidence of the hypothesized relationships, the study highlights the importance of continued research into the factors affecting safety and quality of life among Hispanic/Latinx immigrants. Future research should use larger, more diverse, and randomized samples to better understand these relationships.

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