Poverty and mental health among migrants: When is ingroup exposure more protective than social ties?

• Ingroup exposure in residential areas and social ties are typically positively linked to mental health among migrants. • We argue that whether migrants can reap the benefits of these protective factors depends on their poverty status. • Findings show that migrants below the poverty line do not benefit from ingroup exposure or social ties. • However, compared to natives, migrants above the poverty line do benefit from social ties. • We conclude that migrants might benefit more from protective factors when they are equipped to invest in them.