Mental Health Among Puerto Rican Adolescents Living in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The present study examined how different family level (family financial stress, family violence) and individual (food insecurity, gender, race) determinants of health were associated with mental health among Puerto Rican adolescents living in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A sample consisting of 119 Puerto Rican adolescents, aged 13 to 17, was collected via Qualtrics Panels between November 2020 and January 2021. We examined the association between family financial stress experienced during the pandemic and psychological distress. We also evaluated whether the association between family financial stress and psychological distress was moderated by family violence, food insecurity, and the participant's gender and race. RESULTS: Findings showed that food insecurity positively predicted psychological distress. Results also showed that participants' race moderated the association between family financial stress and psychological distress. Specifically, we found that while there was a significant positive association between family financial stress and psychological distress among Puerto Rican adolescents who identified as a racial minority, this association was nonsignificant among White Puerto Rican adolescents. CONCLUSION: Our research highlights the significant role of COVID-19 related family financial stress and food insecurity on Puerto Rican adolescents' poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Racial Differences in Discrimination, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health Among US Latinx Adolescents During COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: We explored racial differences in discrimination, perceived inequality, coping strategies, and mental health among 869 Latinx adolescents (Mage = 15.08) in the US. We then examined the moderating effects of race and perceived inequality in the associations between discrimination and coping strategies, and between discrimination and mental health. METHOD: ANOVAs assessed group differences in the study variables based on race. Moderated regression analyses examined whether there was a 2 or 3-way interaction between race, perceived inequality, and discrimination on coping strategies and mental health as separate outcomes. RESULTS: Black Latinx adolescents reported significantly higher rates of discrimination and perceived inequality than White and Other Race Latinx adolescents. Biracial Latinx adolescents reported higher rates of discrimination and poorer mental health than White Latinx adolescents. There was a significant 2-way interaction between discrimination and perceived inequality for engaged and disengaged coping. Discrimination was positively associated with engaged coping for low levels but not medium and high levels of perceived inequality. Discrimination was positively related to disengaged coping at medium and high levels of perceived inequality but not at low levels of perceived inequality. There was a significant 2-way interaction between discrimination and race for engaged and disengaged coping. Discrimination was negatively related to engaged coping for Black Latinx but not White Latinx adolescents. Discrimination was positively correlated to disengaged coping for Black Latinx but not Other Race Latinx adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: This research provides preliminary evidence of racial group differences among Latinx adolescents regarding various indicators of mental health, which may help inform mental health interventions and federal policy.

COVID-19 Economic and Academic Stress on Mexican American Adolescents' Psychological Distress: Parents as Essential Workers.

OBJECTIVES: In a sample of Mexican American adolescents (N = 398; 51% females; aged 13-17), we examined the associations between psychological distress, COVID-19 household economic stress, COVID-19 academic stress, and whether these associations varied by adolescents' gender and by parents/caregivers' essential worker status. METHOD: First, linear regression models assessed the main effects of household economic and academic stress on psychological distress. Second, the moderating effects of gender and parents/caregivers' essential worker status on the association between household economic and academic stress, and psychological distress were examined. Third, the three-way interaction effect of household economic stress, gender, and parents/caregivers' essential worker status on psychological distress as well as the three-way interaction effect of academic stress, gender, and parents/caregivers' essential worker status on psychological distress were calculated. RESULTS: Household economic and academic stress were associated with psychological distress. However, these associations did not vary based on adolescents' gender or parents/caregivers' essential worker status. The three-way interaction for household economic stress, parents/caregivers' essential worker status, and gender for psychological distress was significant. Specifically, the effects of household economic stress on psychological distress was worse for boys than girls whose parents/caregivers were essential workers. Furthermore, the three-way interaction among academic stress, parents/caregivers' essential worker status, and gender was significant. Particularly, the effects of academic stress when grades were worse on adolescents' psychological distress was worse for boys than girls whose parents/caregivers were essential workers. CONCLUSION: Parents/caregivers' essential worker status was salient among Mexican American adolescents' mental health outcomes during COVID-19, particularly for adolescent boys.

Examining COVID-19 pandemic-related economic and household stress and its association with mental health, alcohol, and substance use in a national sample of Latinx sexual minority and heterosexual adults.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual minority adults of Latinx descent faced compounded intersectional stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic across socioeconomic and health domains. Latinx people have experienced some of the highest COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates in the United States in addition to significant economic challenges. Yet, current data have not observed the unique pandemic-related experiences of sexual minority Latinx (SML) adults. We examined sexual identity differences in economic and household stress, social support, mental health symptomatology (depression, anxiety), alcohol, and substance use among sexual minority and nonsexual minority Latinx adults in the United States. METHOD: Primary data were collected via the AmeriSpeak panel, a national probability sample of U.S.-based 2,286 Latinx adults [sexual minority = .34% (n = 465)]. Data were collected from November 2020 to January 2021, during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: SML adults endorsed higher levels of economic and household stress, mental health symptomatology, and alcohol and substance use than nonsexual minority Latinx adults. Economic stress was associated with increased mental health symptomatology, alcohol, and substance use among SML adults. Social support moderated the association between economic stress and mental health symptomatology and substance use, but not alcohol use. CONCLUSION: Findings highlighted unique intersectional considerations among SML adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the importance of social support and the negative toll of economic stress on mental health and substance use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Alcohol misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: Stressors and intersectionality among Latinx women.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated previously existing disparities and introduced new challenges for individuals living at the intersection of marginalized identities, such as Latinx women. For instance, increases in alcohol use have been noted during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet it is unclear which circumstances experienced are more likely to predict alcohol use among Latinx women. METHOD: The present study sought to identify the profile of intersectional factors, namely immigrant status, socioeconomic standing, and age, and COVID-19 stressors that predicted high or hazardous alcohol use among 1,227 Latinx women living in the United States. RESULTS: The main findings, in the form of a binomial logistic regression, revealed a pattern of circumstances that differentiated high and low alcohol use including income, age, history of COVID-19 infection, disruptions in work, and emotional health difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the present study provides an important contribution to the extant research literature by demonstrating the importance of considering syndemic effects of COVID-19 when addressing health behaviors for Latinx women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Latino Migrant Farmworker Youths' Perceptions of Access to Care in the Southeast: A Qualitative Approach.

This study explored Latino Migrant Farmworker (LMFW) youths' perceptions regarding access to health care in the United States (U.S.). Twenty semi-structured audio-voice recorded interviews were conducted with LMFW youths (aged 15-20 years old) in Georgia and Florida. Thematic analysis was used to explore whether, and how, LMFW youths would seek health care in the U.S. as well as their personal views toward health care. Five distinct perceptions regarding accessing health care were delineated: (1) cultural-related views and attitudes toward health care, (2) transportation dependency, (3) English language as a barrier for communication, (4) lack of knowledge of available resources, and (5) embracing the obligation, and the necessity, of work. Some of LMFW youths' perceptions of seeking access to health care in the U.S. point to barriers related to social determinants of health. These barriers suggest the need for significant reform within the U.S. health care system to include farmworker youths' health needs and to promote cultural responsiveness among clinicians and rural health providers to better serve this vulnerable population.

The citizenship shield: Mediated and moderated links between immigration status, discrimination, food insecurity, and negative health outcomes for latinx immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A framework termed "the citizenship shield" is introduced to conceptualize how legal protections buffer against negative health outcomes among Latinx immigrants in the United States. In this study, we tested the citizenship shield framework in the context of the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx immigrants. We investigated the connection between immigration status, discrimination, food insecurity, and negative health outcomes. Analyses involved testing mediation and moderation models among a community-based sample of 536 Latinx immigrants holding five statuses (i.e., U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, undocumented, and temporary status). Results suggested that food insecurity mediated the link between discrimination and negative impacts from the pandemic for Latinx immigrants across all statuses. Follow up analyses suggested that two of the three paths were moderated by immigration status. This research provides novel, important data to inform health interventions and federal policy targeted for the most vulnerable immigrants in the United States.

Applying culturalist methodologies to discern COVID-19's impact on communities of color.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color (CoC) amid increasing incidents of racial injustices and racism. In this article, we describe our culturalist methodologies for designing and implementing a multi-ethnic, interdisciplinary national needs assessment developed in partnership with CoC. Instead of a typical western-centric social science approach that typically ignores and perpetuates structural racism and settler colonialism, the research team implemented culturalist and community-partnered approaches that were further contextualized to the context of structural racism and settler colonialism. The culturalist approach yielded two sets of themes both related to the impact of the pandemic on CoC. The first set involved syndemic factors that contribute to the adverse impact of COVID-19. These include historical trauma; racism, racial stress, and discrimination; and cultural mistrust. The second set consisted of factors that potentially mitigate the impact of the COVID-19. These include cultural protective factors; community engagement; communal ethos, and data disaggregation. Our methodologies and the resulting findings encourage research praxis that uplifts the shared effects of the social determinants of health while honoring unique cultural and contextual experiences-a lesson that social science researchers largely have yet to learn.

The effects of discrimination and psychological distress on U.S. Latino/a young adults' relational uncertainty and relationship instability.

OBJECTIVES: Racial/ethnic discrimination is a common and salient stressor for many individuals. Although discrimination can impair personal and relational well-being, little is known about its influences on the process of considering dissolution (i.e., relationship instability). In two studies of Latino/a young adults, we examined associations among discrimination, psychological distress, relational uncertainty, and relationship instability. METHOD: Study 1 assessed self-reports of 475 participants aged 18-29 (60.2% female, Mage = 24.8, SD = 3.22). Study 2 examined self-reports of 462 participants aged 18-29 (40.9% female, Mage = 25.9, SD = 2.72). Structural equation models evaluated direct and indirect associations among study variables. RESULTS: Discrimination was associated with relationship instability, both directly and indirectly via its associations with psychological distress and, in Study 1, relational uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS: Overall results suggest that racial/ethnic discrimination is associated with romantic relationship instability through its associations with psychological distress and uncertainty about the future of a relationship. Prior research demonstrates the resilience of Latino/a communities, and our findings reinforce the need for policies and clinical resources that reduce discrimination and support mental health and relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Parenting, Pesticides and Adolescent Psychological Adjustment: A Brief Report.

Pesticides used to control insects, such as pyrethroids, are neurotoxicants, yet adolescent researchers often overlook their potential role in adolescent psychological adjustment. This brief report is guided by bioecological theory and considers the possible independent and interactive effects of environmental pyrethroid pesticide exposure for adolescent depressive symptoms. Self-reported adolescent appraisals of the parent-child relationship and depressive symptoms were obtained from a convenience sample of impoverished, predominantly Latino urban youth (n = 44). Exposure to environmental pyrethroids was obtained from wipe samples using a standardized protocol. Parent-adolescent conflict was higher in households with bifenthrin than those without, and adolescent depressive symptoms were elevated in homes where cypermethrin was detected. In addition, the presence of bifenthrin in the home attenuated the protective effects of parental involvement on adolescent depressive symptoms. The current results suggest that adolescent mental health researchers must consider the synergistic combinations of adolescents' environments' physical and social features. Given the endemic presence of pesticides and their neurotoxic function, pesticide exposure may demand specific attention.

Work, Stressors, and Psychosocial Adjustment of Undocumented Guatemalan Adolescents in United States Agriculture: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

This research focused on undocumented male Guatemalan migrant adolescents' experiences and stressors in United States agriculture. Study 1 applied a phenomenological method to explore work-life experiences of Guatemalan minors (n = 10) aged 15-17 (Mage = 16.4). Findings highlighted three themes (1) "Just keep pushing forward," (2) "It feels ugly but that's life," and (3) "I have to do everything on my own." Using a separate sample, Study 2 examined the association between stressors and depressive symptoms among Guatemalan migrant adolescents (n = 28), aged 15-20 (Mage = 17.71). Results showed loneliness, social isolation, and work conditions as correlates for depressive symptoms. Findings highlighted a distinct developmental path among migrant farmworker adolescents and offered insight into their resilience and developmental threats.

Household Food Security Discordance Among Latino Adolescents and Parents.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the degree of parent-adolescent concordance in reported household food security, and delineated variation in concordance as a function of selected household and parent-adolescent relationship characteristics. METHODS: Cross-tabulations and Cohen's Kappa determined concordance. Multinomial logistic regressions delineated variation in concordance as a function of selected household and parent-adolescent relationship characteristics for Latino parent and adolescent dyads (N = 70). RESULTS: Nearly half the households had concordant reports of household food security, but 34% were "discordant" such that parents reported food insecurity but adolescents did not, and 17% were "discordant" wherein adolescents reported food insecurity but parents did not. Elevated parent-adolescent conflict was associated with greater odds of discordance wherein adolescent reported food insecurity but parent did not. Households with female adolescents and income ≥ $30,000/year were associated with lower odds of discordance wherein parent reported food insecurity but adolescent did not. CONCLUSIONS: Discordant reports of Latino household food security suggest the burden of unequal access to sufficient foods may be underestimated. Discordant reports may follow from cultural values that may encourage adolescents to keep hunger from their parents.