The Role of Close Relationships in the Mental and Physical Health of Latino Americans

Abstract

The biobehavioral family model (BBFM) is a model that explains the connections between family relationships and mental and physical health. This model may be especially useful for modeling the connections between family relationships and health for Latinos. Using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study, this study tested two models of the BBFM: one using family emotional climate as the predictor variable (N = 2,554) and a second investigating the effects of romantic partner emotional climate as the predictor variable (n = 1,559). The moderating effects of nativity were also tested. Results indicated that as negative family emotional climate worsened, biobehavioral reactivity worsened, and as biobehavioral reactivity became more problematic, disease activity became more severe. The same pattern was found for romantic partner emotional climate. Findings suggest group differences between U.S.‐born and foreign‐born Latinos. Results highlight the applicability of the BBFM for Latino American adults.