Latinx Families Research Articles

Maternal depression and parenting stress in English-speaking Latina mothers with a history of adverse childhood experiences

BackgroundIn the United States, Latinx populations report higher prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) compared to non-Latinx White populations. ACEs have been associated with maternal depression and parenting stress, while social support often functions as a protective factor. However, these relationships have not been adequately researched in Latinx samples. ObjectiveThis research aims to clarify the prevalence of maternal ACEs, and the relationships between ACEs, maternal depression, parenting stress, and social support among a sample of English-speaking Latina mothers. Participants and SettingParticipants were 167 English-speaking Latina mothers (average age of 29 years old) with at least one pre-kindergarten aged child recruited from 12 Title-I public elementary schools. MethodRecruitment happened as part of a quasi-experimental effectiveness trial of a universal school-based prevention program. Data from baseline assessments were analyzed using linear regression and bootstrapping was used to assess mediation. Outcome67.7% of the sample reported 1 or more ACEs. Multiple regression demonstrated that ACEs (b = 0.30, p <.001) and parenting stress (b = 0.66, p <.001) predicted depression; depression (b = 0.36, p <.001) and social support (b = -0.40, p =.025) predicted parenting stress. The effect of ACEs on parenting stress was mediated by depression (β = 0.15, 95% CI [0.063, 0.24]). The relationship between depression and parenting stress was moderated by social support (b = -0.08, p =.006). ConclusionsResults suggest that ACEs increase the likelihood of depression and parenting stress; however, social support may buffer the effects of depression on parenting stress among Latinx families, thus increasing family well-being.

Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of implementing a family-based intervention Your Family, Your Neighborhood with Latinx immigrant families

School-based parent involvement is associated with child academic outcomes, positive behaviors, and social skills. However, schools often struggle to engage low-income, Latinx immigrant, Spanish-speaking parents and are tasked with finding new and creative ways to involve these parents. Despite the need to engage this diverse group of parents, culturally and linguistically responsive programs to engage parents are limited. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of a family-based intervention—Your Family, Your Neighborhood (YFYN)—with Latinx immigrant Spanish-speaking families. YFYN is an empirically supported, dual-generation, in-person, manualized curriculum that supports and strengthens bonds between parents and their children while fostering neighborhood social cohesion among families living in low-income communities and project-based subsidized housing. Parent-child dyads (N = 15) residing in a mid-sized city within a southwestern state participated in the YFYN intervention. Participating families attended 10 two-hour skills-based curriculum sessions during which they gathered for a community dinner and participated in parent- and child-specific skills-based groups (e.g., learning skills such as parent–child communication, school engagement strategies, positive youth development and leadership, and community strengths and challenges through photovoice). Intervention feasibility and acceptability were evaluated based on parent attendance (parents attended a mean of 8.39 out of 10 sessions), attrition rates and qualitative post-participation focus groups. Parents demonstrated a statistically significant change in parent–child relationships from pre-assessment to post-assessment and positive trends for participation in school activities, positive child behavior and community connections. Findings from this study reveal that the YFYN intervention is feasible and highly acceptable with Spanish-speaking Latinx immigrant families, demonstrated by high session attendance and low attrition. Focus groups with parent participants indicated improvements in their parent–child relationships, changes in participants’ perspectives of their impact on their child’s education and the development of new connections with other YFYN parent participants. This study offers preliminary findings regarding the effects of the YFYN intervention among Latinx families living in low-income neighborhoods. Future directions for engaging Spanish-speaking Latinx immigrant families in schools are discussed.

Implications of Undocumented Status for Latinx Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call to Action

ABSTRACT Background A disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported among Latinxs in the U.S. Among those most affected by the pandemic are marginalized families, including those that are undocumented and mixed-status, in which some, but not all members are undocumented. Undocumented and mixed-status families face multiple and chronic daily stressors that compromised their health and wellbeing. Salient stressors faced by undocumented Latinx families include poverty, social disadvantage, discrimination, dangerous living and working conditions, and limited access to healthcare. These stressors are frequently compounded with trauma, fear of detention, deportation, and family separation. Purpose Informed by the literature and insights from our community-based work to address the health needs of undocumented and mixed status Latinx families during the pandemic, this paper uses a social determinants of health lens to present a narrative summary that highlights four primary psychosocial stressors faced by these families and their implications for mental health. Discussion These include stressors pertaining to (a) anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions; (b) family stressors and disruptions in family dynamics; (c) economic changes and financial losses; and (c) limited access to healthcare. Implications of the aforesaid stressors on the mental health of undocumented families and youth are also discussed. In addition, recommendations are provided for the provision of mental health services, best practices, and resources from a strengths-based approach.

Household Social Needs, Emotional Functioning, and Stress in Low-Income Latinx Children and their Mothers

Latinx families may be particularly vulnerable to emotional dysfunction, due to higher rates of economic hardship and complex social influences in this population. Little is known about the impact of environmental stressors such as unmet social needs and maternal stress on the emotional health of Latinx children from low-income families. We conducted secondary analyses using survey and biomarker data from 432 Latinx children and mothers collected in a separate study. We used binomial and multinomial logistic regression to test if household social needs, or maternal perceived stress or hair cortisol concentration (HCC), predicted child measures of emotional functioning or child HCC, independent of relevant sociodemographic factors. Approximately 40% of children in the sample had symptoms consistent with emotional dysfunction, and over 37% of households reported five or more social needs. High perceived maternal stress predicted higher odds of child emotional dysfunction (OR = 2.15; 95% CI [1.14, 4.04]; p = 0.01), and high maternal HCC was positively associated with high child HCC (OR = 10.60; 95% CI [4.20, 26.74]; p < 0.01). Most individual household social needs, as well as the level of household social need, were not independently associated with child emotional dysfunction or child HCC. Our findings begin to define a framework for understanding emotional health, stress, and resilience when caring for Latinx children and mothers living with high levels of social need, and the need for integrated mental health and social needs screening and interventions in settings that serve this population.

Understanding Literacies in Latinx Families: Teachers Using Home Visits to Reimagine Classroom Practices

AbstractChildren from Latinx families bring rich and varied literacy practices and cultural models to their classrooms. When teachers are able to recognize these assets, they have opportunities to make their teaching more responsive and engaging. One way to learn about these assets is through relationship‐building, assets‐framed home visits. In this article, we remind teachers of the exciting breadth of family literacy practices, particularly with regard to Latinx families and children. We provide guidance for home visits that center and honor families, build relationships, and inform teachers. We conclude with suggestions for translating what teachers learn into richer literacy instruction.

Culturally Responsive, Targeted Social Media Marketing to Facilitate Engagement with a Digital Parenting Program

Latinx families who have experienced immigration are often exposed to traumatic experiences before, during, and after migration. Exposure to trauma is associated with health challenges, however responsive and supportive parenting can strengthen adjustment of children who have experienced adversity. Systemic barriers in the U.S. make accessing parenting interventions difficult for immigrant Latinx families. This study investigated the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a culturally tailored, direct-to-consumer (DTC) social media marketing campaign to engage Latinx parents who have resettled in the U.S with a digital parenting program, Parenting in the Moment. Video and graphic advertisements were delivered on a prominent social media platform in English and Spanish, with each advertisement employing varying messaging tactics. The campaign reached a total of 2,902,440 viewers and engaged 41,835 people who clicked on the link to the parenting program’s webpage. Each link click cost an average of $0.71. Advertisement type and language was associated with advertisement link click, with videos and advertisements in Spanish receiving more engagement compared with English and graphic advertisements. When analyzed separately, the engagement with each video theme differed within English and Spanish advertisements. The current study serves as the first step to understanding the use of digital DTC marketing to engage parents who have experienced immigration with parenting services. Findings support culturally tailored, social media marketing as a cost-effective strategy for increasing access to and engagement with parenting programs for immigrant families.

Examining Interpersonal Traumas Across Low Income Latinx Mother-Youth Dyads: Associations Between Maternal Child Abuse Exposure and Racial Discrimination with Mother and Youth Psychopathology

Child abuse has intergenerational consequences for psychopathology, however, there remains a paucity of research regarding how these experiences affect Latinx families, particularly those at risk for additional negative life events, such as racial discrimination. This study aims to contribute to this gap in the literature by examining the impact maternal child abuse exposure has on youth and maternal psychopathology, as well as whether these associations are moderated by racial discrimination, in a sample of 224 Latinx mother-youth dyads. Hierarchical regressions revealed small but significant maternal child abuse exposure x racial discrimination interactions for youth depression and anxiety, but not maternal depression or anxiety, which were solely positively associated with maternal child abuse exposure. Findings highlight the multifarious, and at times convergent, nature of trauma and oppression among Latinx families, as well as the impact across generations. Future work is needed to further elucidate developmental pathways of intergenerational trauma in understudied populations.

Perceptions and experiences of Latinx parents with language barriers in a pediatric emergency department: a qualitative study

BackgroundPrior research has shown disparities exist among Latinx children who require treatment for respiratory illnesses within the pediatric emergency department (PED). Limited data exist regarding Latinx families’ experiences on the care they received at PEDs within non-traditional destination areas (NDA). Their experiences can identify areas of improvement to potentially reduce healthcare disparities among pediatric patients within this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of Latinx families with low English proficiency in the PED with a NDA. The broader purpose was to identify areas of improvement for reducing health care disparities among Latinx families.MethodsWe used qualitative methods to analyze semi-structured interviews among Latinx families who presented to the PED with their 0–2 year-old child for a respiratory illness from May 2019 through January 2020. All participants had low English proficiency and requested a Spanish interpreter during registration. All interviews were transcribed and reviewed using thematic analysis based on a phenomenology framework.ResultsInterviews were conducted with 16 Latinx parents. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: (1) Uncertainty - Families expressed uncertainty regarding how to care for a child with distressing symptoms, (2) Communication – Families favored in-person interpreters which enhanced communication and allowed families to feel more informed, (3) System Burden – Families reported that the unfamiliarity with the US health system and lack of resources are additional burdens, and (4) Emotional Support – The emergency department visits garnered confidence and reassurance for families.ConclusionsOur study identified four major themes among Latinx families within a PED of a NDA. Potential areas of interventions should focus on supporting access to an interpreter, improving information delivery, and enhancing education on community resources for families with low English proficiency.

Adverse Childhood Experiences in Latinx Families: A Comparison between Intraracial and Interracial Families

Racial/ethnic minorities are prone to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), posing a concern over social justice. However, the influence of interracial family structure has been rarely discussed. Considering that 26% of Hispanic individuals form interracial marriages in the U.S., we need to examine whether interracial family structure matters for ACEs disparities in Latinx families. We hypothesized that there were differences in ACEs between intraracial and interracial families in the Latinx population. A Latinx sample was collected from the Fragile Family and Child Well-being Studies with 1113 children of two Latinx parents and 397 children of interracial parents (e.g., White mother/Latinx father, Black mother/Latinx father, Latinx mother/White father, Latinx mother/Black father). Negative binomial models revealed a higher overall ACEs score among children in interracial families (β = 0.54, p &lt; 0.05). Compared to children with two Latinx parents, children in each interracial family group were prone to higher risks of different ACEs. For example, children with Latinx mothers and Black fathers were more likely to experience parental separation (OR = 2.33), household material hardship (OR = 1.64), physical abuse (OR = 6.01), and psychological abuse (OR = 3.49) than children in intraracial Latinx families. Based on our findings, we call for culturally responsive ACEs prevention and intervention that consider the unique stressors of interracial families, to promote the health and well-being of racial/ethnic minorities.

Exploring Parental Perceptions of Early Childhood Education Among Spanish-Speaking Latinx Families

Exploring Parental Perceptions of Early Childhood Education Among Spanish-Speaking Latinx Families

Change and Continuity in Preventive Practices Across the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Rural and Urban Latinx Immigrant Worker Families.

(1)The COVID-19 pandemic has put essential workers at high risk for contracting the disease. This study documents situational compliance with public health recommendations such as masking and social distancing among rural and urban Latinx families, with the goal of understanding change over time in COVID-19 risk reduction behaviors. (2)Respondents for 67 rural families and 44 urban families responded to repeated telephone surveys at three time points in the first year of the pandemic, providing data on use of masks and social distancing by themselves and family members while interacting with others at home, work, and in the community. Cumulative logistic regression models were employed to compare changes in risk behaviors between rural and urban groups over time. (3)While group descriptive results indicated behaviors that posed low risk at each time point, regression models revealed greater change between time points for rural than urban residents. Rural residents also had gendered patterns. (4)Patterns of change appear to reflect structural issues such as seasonal labor demand and gender roles more than pandemic fatigue or changing public health recommendations. The findings suggest that structural factors play a role in individuals complying with public health prevention measures for COVID-19.

Educating Bilingual Social Workers for the Child Welfare Workforce

Spanish/English bilingual (SEB) speaking social workers are in high demand, particularly in the area of Child Welfare. Most require training and institutional support to increase their cultural and linguistic competence, yet the majority receive no specific education or support. As a result, many encounter inequities in the workforce. Research points to several elements that are essential to the education and development of SEB social workers. They include professional terminology, supervision in Spanish, and the opportunity to integrate theory and practice. To respond to the needs of a growing Spanish-speaking population, the UConn BSW Program has added a Child Welfare and Protection (CWP) track. CWP is designed to provide BSW SEB speaking students with specialized knowledge and experience to meet the needs of Latinx families served by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (CT DCF). This paper describes how the UConn BSW program and DCF collaborated to re-envision social work education for SEB students and contribute to distributive justice for client and worker. The CWP Track prepares BSW students to work with a range of Spanish-speaking clients while facilitating institutional support including incentives to create a much-needed workforce pipeline for SEB social work students interested in child welfare.

Latinx Families’ Experiences Navigating Early Intervention Services for Their Children with Developmental Delays

ABSTRACT The first three years of a child’s life are of critical importance to the development of the brain. Children identified as not developing at a pace that is age level appropriate may be referred to early intervention services. This study identifies the successes as well as the various challenges that Latinx families encounter as they navigate the early intervention system. Through one-on-one interviews, the researchers in the current study explore the attitudes, values, and concerns of nine Latina mothers who accessed and received early intervention services for their children with developmental delays. Results from this study provide direction for the development of strategies and guidance for practitioners in the application of recommended practices.

Young Puerto Rican Mothers’ Cultural Orientation and Parenting Behaviors: Associations with Subsequent Child Emotion Dysregulation

SYNOPSIS Objective. Children of Latinx adolescent mothers are at risk for regulatory difficulties. However, a paucity of research has examined parenting behaviors and children’s early emotional development in such families. Design. Longitudinal associations between observed parenting behaviors (sensitivity, directiveness, child-directed language) at 18 months and children’s emotion dysregulation at 18 and 24 months were tested among young mainland Puerto Rican mothers (N = 123) and their toddlers. Given the cultural variability present in Latinx families, whether mothers’ cultural orientation moderated these associations was also tested. Results. Maternal sensitivity predicted less child emotion dysregulation at 24 months at all levels of cultural orientation. Directiveness was unrelated to dysregulation. Child-directed language predicted lower dysregulation only when mothers endorsed lower levels of American cultural orientation. Conclusions. It is important to consider families’ cultural context when identifying maternal behaviors that are most beneficial to child development.

Mexican–American caregivers' perceptions of a culturally adapted transition planning program for youth with autism

AbstractThe transition from adolescence to adulthood is difficult for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families because they must learn to navigate the complex adult disability service delivery system. For Latinx (vs. White) families of youth with ASD, this period is especially difficult because of the systemic barriers (e.g., language and cultural differences) they face when accessing services. To support Latinx families, effective and culturally responsive supports (e.g. culturally tailored programs) are critical. To this end, the purpose of this study is to describe the cultural adaptation of a transition planning program (i.e., ASSIST) for Latinx families of youth with ASD. First, we culturally adapted the curriculum using the Ecological Validity Framework (Bernal et al., 1995) and the Cultural Sensitivity (CS) model (Resnicow et al., 1999). Then, we presented the culturally adapted curriculum to eight Mexican–American caregivers of youth with ASD. Specifically, we conducted three individual interviews with each participant (N = 24 interviews altogether) to examine their perceptions of the six sessions of the culturally adapted curriculum. Based on their feedback, changes were made to the curriculum. Overall, participants reported positive perceptions of the culturally adapted curriculum, but suggested the following recommendations: include information related to mixed‐status families, add information about guardianship, and use the translation technique of borrowing for specific terms. Based on the findings, implications for research and practice are discussed.

Documenting the advocacy experiences among eight Latina mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities

AbstractInternationally, it has been recognized that parent involvement is an essential component of the special education process for children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Parent involvement often includes parents advocating for their children. However, many parents face barriers when advocating to obtain appropriate special education services for their children with IDD. In the United States, Latinx families face greater systemic barriers (e.g., language and cultural differences) to access services for their own children with IDD. To this end, parents may turn to parent advocacy training programs to learn about special education and feel empowered to advocate for school services for their own children and other families of children with disabilities. Yet, it is unclear how Latinx families advocate for services for their own children and for other Latinx families of children with disabilities after attending an advocacy program. We designed a study to explore the advocacy experiences of eight Latinx families one year after attending an advocacy program. Participants reported that they used three advocacy strategies when advocating for their own children with disabilities: knowledge of special education law, non‐adversarial advocacy strategies, and requests for data. Notably, some participants reported not having an advocacy experience due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Mental health disparities in Latinx immigrant communities residing in the United States during COVID-19: Implications for policy and practice.

ObjectivesStudies have demonstrated that Latinx populations face significant health disparities in access to mental health care. The objective of this study was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health needs of Latinx families, from the perspectives of direct service providers working with Latinx communities.MethodsTwenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually with direct service providers to the Latinx community from August to October 2020. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsTwo-thirds of providers were female, with a median age of 33 years, and provided direct services to Latinx clients and had extensive experience working with immigrant families, particularly in Massachusetts. Key themes identified describing the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health needs of Latinx families included: (1) exacerbation of mental health symptoms, (2) financial stressors, (3) preoccupation regarding transnational lives, (4) secondary needs becoming more salient, and (5) immigration status as a main driver of inequality.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the importance of focusing on the mental health needs of Latinx immigrants and ensuring their access to mental health services. Telehealth seems to be a potential tool that promotes mental health access among Latinx clients. Future research needs to continue investigating the role of telehealth in decreasing mental health access disparities.

Supplemental Material for Más Que Palabras: Understanding the Mental Health and Behavioral Consequences of Sociodemographic Risk and Deportation Fears in Latinx Families

Supplemental Material for Más Que Palabras: Understanding the Mental Health and Behavioral Consequences of Sociodemographic Risk and Deportation Fears in Latinx Families

Working around safety net exclusions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of rural Latinx immigrants

Rural Latinx immigrants experienced disproportionately negative health and economic impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic. They contended with the pandemic at the intersection of legal status exclusions from the safety net and long-standing barriers to health care in rural regions. Yet, little is known about how rural Latinx immigrants navigated such exclusions. In this qualitative study, we examined how legal status stratification in rural contexts influenced Latinx immigrant families’ access to the safety net. We conducted interviews with first- and second-generation Latinx immigrants (n = 39) and service providers (n = 20) in four rural California communities between July 2020 and April 2021. We examined personal and organizational strategies used to obtain economic, health, and other forms of support. We found that Latinx families navigated a limited safety net with significant exclusions. In response, they enacted short-term strategies and practices – workarounds – that met immediate, short-term needs. Workarounds, however, were enacted through individual efforts, allowing little recourse beyond immediate personal agency. Some took the form of strategic practices within the safety net, such as leveraging resources that did not require legal status verification; in other cases, they took the form of families opting to avoid the safety net altogether.

Acceptability, feasibility, and ethics of saliva collection in community-based research with Mexican-origin mixed-status families during high immigration enforcement

BackgroundThere are concerns about the representation of vulnerable and underrepresented racial-ethnic minorities in biomedical and public health research, particularly when the research requires the collection of biospecimens. The current paper reports on the acceptability, feasibility, and ethics of saliva collection in a study examining the relationship between chronic stressors among mostly mixed-status, Latinx families (N = 30) during high immigration enforcement.MethodsData for this study included anthropometric measures and salivary biospecimens from each family member (N = 110) and a household survey. Data for this analysis are from ethnographic field notes, which were analyzed using a bricolage of critical ethnography and case study analysis techniques.ResultsWe discuss the feasibility, aversions, acceptability, and ethical implications of integrating salivary biomarkers with Mexican-origin mixed-status families living in an area with restrictive immigration enforcement policies. We present the recruitment and data collection strategies used by the research team to gain participants’ trust, retain families, and maintain confidentiality.ConclusionWe recommend that researchers who obtain biospecimens from Latinx, Mexican-origin, and/or immigrant populations answer the participants’ questions honestly and without fear that they will not understand the science to obtain voluntary assent and consent. We recommend that researchers be knowledgeable of the sociopolitical context that the Latinx, immigrant, and in particular, mixed-status families inhabit so that they are prepared to provide informational resources. Finally, we think it is imperative that the study team in the field be bilingual, multicultural Latinx persons who identify with the community.