Look on the bright side: the relation between family values, positive aspects of care and caregiver burden.

Family-centered values are important for caregiving. However, findings on their association with burden are inconsistent. We aim to analyze whether positive aspects of caregiving are mediating the effect of familism on burden among informal caregivers of older adults in Germany. Participants (n = 277) were drawn from the Attitudes Toward Informal Caregivers (ATTIC) project and include informal long-term caregivers of older relatives (aged ≥ 60) quota-sampled from Germany (December 2023). Mediation analyses (linear OLS regression) with robust standard errors were conducted with the classic and the counterfactual causal mediation framework. The classic approach indicated a significant positive direct effect of familism on burden, a significant negative direct effect of PAC on burden and a significant negative indirect effect of familism via PAC on burden; the total effect was not significant. The causal mediation approach supports this; the interaction between familism and PAC was not significant. Thus, sociocultural family-centered values seemed to worsen burden but also to reduce it through positive experiences of caregiving, which did not depend on the strength of familism values. The findings advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the stress appraisal of the informal care situation and emphasize the role of positive experiences of care.

Exploring Sibling Relationship Quality among Latinx Siblings: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review addresses the gap in the literature regarding sibling relationship quality among Latinx families, a topic that has not been comprehensively examined to date. This study aimed to synthesize current research on sibling relationship quality in Latinx families, focusing on the influence of cultural factors, identifying key variables associated with sibling relationship quality, and evaluating the methodological approaches used. This paper is a systematic review based on a recently published evidence and gap map (EGM) that identified and visually presented all published studies investigating sibling relationship quality. Additional inclusion criteria were applied to select articles that specifically examined sibling relationship quality in the United States samples with at least 50% Latinx participants. The review included 12 articles representing 6 distinct studies, revealing significant findings on the roles of familism, simpatía, and gender in shaping sibling dynamics. Results indicated that cultural values such as familism and simpatía positively influence sibling intimacy and warmth, while gender dynamics further moderate these relationships. Methodologically, the articles employed longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, utilizing various quantitative measures. The findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive approaches in studying sibling relationships and highlight the need for further research to explore these dynamics in diverse Latinx subgroups.

Unraveling Familism and Depressive Symptoms among Dominican Women: A Multidimensional Analysis.

Familism is a multidimensional construct that includes familial support. However, limited research examines whether the sub-components of familism equally contribute to mental health and whether familism protects against depression beyond social support. To address these gaps, we test associations between the multidimensional components of familism (familial support, familial obligations, family as referents) and social support with depressive symptoms among immigrant Dominican women in New York City. We tested associations between the multidimensional components of familism, specifically, familial support, familial obligations, and family as referents (Sabogal et al., 1987), as well as social support, with depressive symptoms among 419 women. Multiple regression analysis indicated that whereas familial support predicted decreases in depressive symptoms (ß = - 0.15), family obligations, and family as referents did not. However, only social support predicted decreased depressive symptoms (ß= - 0.18) when accounting for covariates and familism subscales. Controlling for covariates, age predicted decreased depressive symptoms (ß = - 0.19), whereas self-rated poor health exhibited the inverse effect (ß = 0.17). These findings highlight the need for a nuanced understanding of familism, social support, and the association of cultural and demographic values on Latina mental health. These results illustrate the need for further analysis of social support and the multiple components of the familism construct.

Critical consciousness and anti-racist action as rooted in family processes.

Racially ethnically marginalized communities in the United States are exposed to structural and interpersonal forms of racism that have harmful effects on their health, wealth, education, and employment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Racism and Health. https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/racism-disparities/index.html, 2021). Although a plethora of research exists outlining these harmful effects, research examining how youth from diverse backgrounds effectively combat racism is lacking. Emerging research demonstrates that families may play a key role in the development of critical consciousness and participation in anti-racist actions (Bañales et al., Journal of Social Issues, 2021, 77, 964; Blanco Martinez et al., American Journal of Community Psychology, 2022, 70, 278; Lozada et al., Journal of Black Psychology, 2017, 43, 493). Yet, many key family processes have not been examined in relation to youth development of anti-racist practices. The current study included a sample of 327 racially ethnically diverse emerging adults (Mage = 18.80, SD = 1.28, range = 18-25), and explored the association between ethnic-racial socialization (cultural socialization, preparation for bias) and youth critical consciousness (reflection, motivation, action) and anti-racist (interpersonal, communal, political change) actions, and how familism values impact these associations. Results found that ethnic-racial socialization was positively associated with all aspects of critical consciousness and anti-racist actions. Results also found that familism significantly interacted with ethnic-racial socialization to predict some aspects of critical consciousness and anti-racist actions, but not others. Implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed.

Cross-cultural experiences and self-development: a psychobiographical study of Bruce Lee.

A common challenge people face in today's cross-cultural world is how to solve a series of adaptation problems caused by cultural conflict. Exploring Bruce Lee's successful cross-cultural experiences through psychobiography offers some inspiration and thoughts. How did Bruce Lee successfully integrate martial arts, symbolising the Eastern culture, with films representing the Western culture, finally propelling kung fu films onto the international stage? Numerous publicly available materials about Bruce Lee were collected for this study, and the research data were evaluated using thematic analysis. Bruce Lee's success benefitted from reconstructing cultural environment information and exercising his initiative to shape a new cultural environment. His life experiences reflect individual cognition behaviour and social and cultural environments as two aspects of a dynamic circulation system and show that the two have reached internal and spiralling harmony through mutual integration. In the context of the Oriental collectivism culture's family narrative, Chinese adults' personality development features the unique theme of 'inheritance and innovation'. Dealing with the relationship between self-actualisation and familism is another important and challenging task in developing the Chinese personality.

Family-level moderators of daily associations between discrimination and distress among Mexican-origin youth.

The current study evaluated cultural values and family processes that may moderate associations between daily racial-ethnic discrimination and distress among Mexican-origin youth. Integrating micro-time (daily diary) and macro-time (longitudinal survey) research design features, we examined familism, family cohesion, and ethnic-racial socialization from youth-, mother-, and father- reports as potential buffers of daily associations between youth racial-ethnic discrimination and youth distress (negative affect and anger). The analytic sample, drawn from the Seguimos Avanzando study, included 317 Mexican-origin adolescents (Mage = 13.5 years) and their parents, recruited from the Midwestern United States. Results indicated that youth-reported familism and family cohesion significantly buffered daily associations between youth racial-ethnic discrimination and youth distress. In contrast, parent-reported familism and family cohesion and some aspects of ethnic-racial socialization exacerbated the discrimination to distress link. The implications of these results are discussed to inform efforts supporting the healthy development of Mexican-origin youth and their families.

Familism, family cohesion, and health-related quality of life in Hispanic prostate cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Familism, the cultural value that emphasizes feelings of loyalty and dedication to one's family, has been related to both positive and negative outcomes in Hispanic cancer survivors. One potential source of observed inconsistencies may be limited attention to the family environment, as familism may be protective in a cohesive family whereas it can exacerbate distress in a conflictive family. PURPOSE: The current study explored the associations of familism with general and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Hispanic men who completed prostate cancer (PC) treatment, and whether family cohesion may help explain these relationships. METHODS: Hispanic men treated for localized PC (e.g., radiation, surgery) were enrolled in a randomized controlled stress management trial and assessed prior to randomization. Familism (familial obligation) was assessed using Sabogal's Familism Scale and family cohesion was measured using the Family Environment Scale (ranging from high to low). The sexual, urinary incontinence, and urinary obstructive/irritative domains of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite - Short Form measured disease-specific HRQoL. The physical, emotional, and functional well-being subscales of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General captured general HRQoL. Hierarchical linear regression and the SPSS PROCESS macro were used to conduct moderation analyses, while controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Participants were 202 older men on average 65.7 years of age (SD = 8.0) who had been diagnosed with PC an average of 22 months prior to enrollment. Familism was not directly associated with general and disease-specific HRQoL. Moderation analyses revealed that greater familism was related to poorer urinary functioning in the incontinence (p = .03) and irritative/obstructive domains (p = .01), and lower emotional well-being (p = .02), particularly when family cohesion was low. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of considering contextual factors, such as family cohesion, in understanding the influence of familism on general and disease-specific HRQoL among Hispanic PC patients. The combined influence of familism and family cohesion predicts clinically meaningful differences in urinary functioning and emotional well-being during the posttreatment phase. Culturally sensitive psychosocial interventions to boost family cohesion and leverage the positive impact of familistic attitudes are needed to enhance HRQoL outcomes in this population.

Familism moderates the association between parent-child conflict, interpersonal needs, and suicidal ideation among adolescents.

Within the framework of the interpersonal theory of suicide, parent-child conflict in adolescence may be associated with suicidal ideation through increases in thwarted interpersonal needs (i.e., perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness). Familism, a cultural value that emphasizes prioritizing familial interconnectedness and honor, may moderate the association between parent-child conflict and thwarted interpersonal needs. This study examined the relationship between parent-child conflict, familism, and suicidal ideation through the interpersonal theory of suicide. Participants were N = 250 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents aged 12-17 years (Mage = 14.84, 60.8% female; 41.9% Hispanic, 21.5% African American/Black, 26.0% Caucasian). Participants completed survey and interview measures prior to discharge from psychiatric hospitalization. There was a significant conditional indirect effect of parent-child conflict on suicidal ideation through thwarted interpersonal needs [F (3, 246) = 54.41, p < .01], such that the strength of the indirect effects family conflict on suicidal ideation via thwarted interpersonal needs increased as familism increased. Findings indicate that the relationship between parent-child conflict and thwarted interpersonal needs may be exacerbated when levels of familism are also high. For youth who endorse high levels of familism, parent-child conflict may be particularly pernicious. Interventions targeting the family environment are needed to potentially improve adolescents' interpersonal functioning and protect against suicidal ideation.

Child and adolescent suicide is a growing and pressing problem, and it is currently the second leading cause of death among people aged 10­34. One theory of suicide, called the interpersonal theory of suicide, proposes that suicide ideation is related to two main risk factors: feeling that one's life is a burden on others (called perceived burdensomeness) and feeling like one is disconnected from others (called thwarted belongingness). In this theory, risk factors like parent-child conflict may be related to suicide ideation through increases in perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. It is possible that cultural values that prioritize family connectedness and honor (called familism) may also impact these relationships. The current study looked at how parent-child conflict, familism, and adolescent suicide ideation were related to one another in the context of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Participants in the study were 250 adolescents in a psychiatric hospital who completed survey and interview measures before being discharged. Results found parent-child conflict was related to suicide ideation through increases in one's perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness (higher parent-child conflict was related to higher ratings of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, which was related to higher ratings of suicide ideation), and the strength of the relationship between parent-child conflict, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness increased as ratings of familism increased. These results indicate that parent-child conflict may have an especially strong relationship with thoughts of suicide in adolescents who also report a high level of familism. Therefore, suicide-related interventions that target the family environment may help prevent and treat adolescent suicide ideation.

Exploring Pathways to Caregiver Health: The Roles of Caregiver Burden, Familism, and Ethnicity.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the associations of ethnicity, caregiver burden, familism, and physical and mental health among Mexican Americans (MAs) and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). METHODS: We recruited adults 65+ years with possible cognitive impairment (using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score<26), and their caregivers living in Nueces County, Texas. We used weighted path analysis to test effects of ethnicity, familism, and caregiver burden on caregiver's mental and physical health. RESULTS: 516 caregivers and care-receivers participated. MA caregivers were younger, more likely female, and less educated compared to NHWs. Increased caregiver burden was associated with worse mental (B = -0.53; p < .001) and physical health (B = -0.15; p = .002). Familism was associated with lower burden (B = -0.14; p = .001). MA caregivers had stronger familism scores (B = 0.49; p < .001). DISCUSSION: Increased burden is associated with worse caregiver mental and physical health. MA caregivers had stronger familism resulting in better health. Findings can contribute to early identification, intervention, and coordination of services to help reduce caregiver burden.

The Effect of Familism Emotions on Post-Traumatic Growth Among the Elderly in China: The Mediating Roles of Taoist Personality and Sense of Community.

Purpose: Post-traumatic growth is a significant social issue in the management of active aging in elderly people. This study investigates the influence of familism emotions on post-traumatic growth (PTG) of the elderly, and the mediating role of Taoist personality and sense of community (SOC) therein, to provide a scientific basis for the development of positive aging in the elderly. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in several communities of Hubei Province in China. A total of 338 elderly people were investigated with the Familism Emotion Scale, PTG Scale, Taoist Personality Scale and SOC Scale. SPSS 23.0 was used to derive descriptive statistics and conduct a common method bias test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Mplus 7.3 was used for structural equation modeling to test the significance of parallel mediation effects on the data. Results: The results show that: (1) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC are positively correlated with PTG; (2) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC can all positively predict PTG in the elderly; (3) Both Taoist personality and SOC partially mediated the link between familism emotions and PTG in the elderly. Conclusion: In the context of particularly constraining societal events such as COVID-19, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the impact of external environmental influences upon the elderly, such as family and community, and to encourage elderly people to cultivate a more Taoist personality. The formation of a Taoist personality offers a promising new focus for research in elderly healthcare.

The role of neural reward sensitivity in the longitudinal relations between parents' familism values and Latinx American youth's prosocial behaviors.

Past research suggests that parents' familism values play a positive role in Latinx American youth's prosocial tendencies. However, little is known about how individual differences in youth's neural development may contribute to this developmental process. Therefore, using two-wave longitudinal data of 1916 early adolescents (mean age = 9.90 years; 50% girls) and their parents (mean age = 38.43 years; 90% mothers) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, this pre-registered study took a biopsychosocial approach to examine the moderating role of youth's neural reward sensitivity in the link between parents' familism values and youth's prosocial behaviors. Results showed that parents' familism values were associated with increased prosocial behaviors among youth two years later, controlling for baseline prosocial behaviors and demographic covariates. Notably, parents' familism values played a larger role in promoting youth's prosocial behaviors among youth who showed lower ventral striatum activation during reward anticipation. Moreover, such association between parents' familism values and youth's later prosocial behaviors was stronger among youth who showed lower levels of prosocial behaviors initially. Taken together, the findings highlight individual differences in neurobiological development and baseline prosocial behaviors as markers of sensitivity to cultural environments with regard to Latinx American youth's prosocial development.

Psychosocial factors associated with 7-year change in cognition among middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) and Sociocultural ancillary studies.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have examined the associations of psychosocial factors with cognitive change in Hispanics/Latinos. METHODS: Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (HCHS/SOL INCA) and Sociocultural studies were used (n = 2,155; ages ≥45 years). Psychosocial exposures included intrapersonal (ethnic identity, optimism, purpose in life), interpersonal (family cohesion, familism, social networks, social support), and social factors (ethnic discrimination, loneliness, subjective social status). Survey-linear regression models examined associations between psychosocial exposures and 7-year cognitive change (global cognition [GC], verbal learning, memory, word fluency [WF], and digit symbol substitution [DSS]). RESULTS: Familism predicted decline in GC, verbal learning, and memory; family cohesion predicted DSS decline; and loneliness predicted memory decline. Ethnic identity was protective against decline in GC and memory, optimism and social support were protective against decline in memory, and purpose in life was protective against WF decline. DISCUSSION: Psychosocial factors are differentially related to cognitive changes. Culturally relevant factors should be explored in Hispanic/Latino cognitive aging research. HIGHLIGHTS: Psychosocial factors are differentially related to cognitive changes in Latinos. Role of culturally relevant factors on cognition should be further explored. Familism predicted decline in global cognition, verbal learning, and memory. Ethnic identity predicted increase in global cognition and memory.

Stability and change of religiosity among baby boomers in adulthood: Associations with familism over time.

While it is commonly understood that familism is influenced by religiosity, less is known about how religiosity between young adulthood and midlife is related to the trajectory of familism from midlife over the later life course. In this study, we identified a multidimensional typology of religiosity among baby boomers in young adulthood and midlife, explored how membership in this religious typology changed from young adulthood to midlife, and examined how transition patterns of religiosity were associated with familism over time. We used data from a sample of 471 baby boomers (mean age 19 years in 1971) from the Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG), Wave-1 (1971) through Wave-8 (2005). Using latent class and latent transition analysis, we identified three latent religiosity classes in Wave-1 (1971) and Wave-3 (1988): strongly religious, weakly religious, and privately religious, and identified nine transition patterns of religiosity from you between these waves from young adulthood to midlife. Using latent growth curve analysis (Wave-3 to Wave-8), we found that respondents who remained strongly or privately religious or whose religiosity increased had higher initial levels of familism (Wave-3) compared to those who stayed in the weakly religious class. However, the gap in familism across religiosity transition patterns decreased over time up to late middle age. Our findings indicate that while religiosity was positively associated with familism, its impact weakened over time possibly due to change in the centrality of family life and societal factors.

Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms Among Mexican American Women: Exploring Multilevel Sociocultural Moderators.

Relative to empirical studies on risk factors, less research has focused on culturally based protective factors that reduce the impact of discrimination on mental health. The current prospective study evaluated two potential moderators of the effect of discrimination on depressive symptoms among Mexican American women: individually held familism values and neighborhood cultural cohesion. Mexican-origin women in the United States (N = 322; mean age = 27.8 years; 86% born in Mexico) reported on frequency of discrimination, depressive symptoms, familism, and neighborhood cultural cohesion. Independent models evaluated familism and neighborhood cultural cohesion as moderators of the effect of discrimination on subsequent depressive symptoms. More frequent discrimination predicted higher subsequent depressive symptoms. High familism buffered the harmful effect of discrimination on depressive symptoms, such that more frequent discrimination was associated with higher subsequent depressive symptoms only for women who reported average and low familism. Neighborhood cultural cohesion did not buffer the effect of discrimination on depressive symptoms.

Stability and change in acculturation-related characteristics in older Latinos: Implications for culturally compatible ADRD research.

Introduction: Acculturation-related characteristics, that is, factors directly connected to culture and familial relationships, are associated with engaged research participation within Latino communities. Despite this, little empirical data exists on whether acculturation changes over time in older Latinos, which has potential implications for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) research study design including longer duration clinical trial implementation. Methods: Self-identified Latinos (n = 222; mean age = 71, 76% female) participating in one of three ongoing longitudinal community-based cohort studies of aging who reported their nativity outside of the United States/District of Columbia (US/DC) contributed, on average, 4.0 ± 1.2 years of annually collected data. This included acculturation-related characteristics of total, language-, and social-based scores from the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH) and total and domain-specific scores from an abbreviated Sabogal Familism questionnaire. We used ordinal mixed effects models and linear mixed effects models (as appropriate) to assess change in acculturation metrics after adjusting for age, sex, education, income, and duration of time in the US/DC. Results: Although none of the SASH metrics changed over time (P-values ≥ 0.25), all Familism metrics declined over time (P-values ≤ 0.044). Additionally, select participant-based characteristics including years of education were significantly (and differentially) associated with level of, but not change in, acculturation-related outcomes. Discussion: Results suggest that specific acculturation-related factors (i.e., familism) change over time in older Latinos, and participant-based characteristics associated with baseline levels of (but not change in) acculturation more generally. Thus, acculturation-related characteristics are not all static, trait-like qualities but rather a multi-faceted, and at times evolving, construct. Considering this dynamic phenotyping is important when contextualizing older Latinos' lived experience, and when designing, adapting, and conducting ADRD clinical trials and other health-related interventions.

Sociocultural factors, guilt and depression in family caregivers of people with dementia. Kinship differences.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the role that family obligations and social desirability have for understanding guilt and depressive symptoms in family caregivers. A theoretical model is proposed to analyze this significance based on the kinship with the person cared for. METHODS: Participants are 284 family caregivers of people with dementia divided into four kinship groups (husbands, wives, daughters and sons). Face-to-face interviews were conducted assessing sociodemographic variables, familism (family obligations), dysfunctional thoughts, social desirability, frequency and discomfort associated with problematic behaviors, guilt and depressive symptoms. Path analyses are performed to analyze the fit of the proposed model and multigroup analysis to study potential differences between kinship groups. RESULTS: The proposed model fits the data well and explains significant percentages of variance of guilt feelings and depressive symptomatology for each group. The multigroup analysis suggests that, for daughters, higher family obligations were associated with depressive symptomatology through a report of higher dysfunctional thoughts. For daughters and wives, an indirect association between social desirability and guilt was observed through reaction to problematic behaviors. CONCLUSION: The results support the need to consider the significance of sociocultural aspects such as family obligations and the desirability bias in the design and implementation of interventions for caregivers, especially for daughters. Considering that the variables that contribute to explaining caregivers' distress vary depending on the relationship with the person cared for, individualized interventions may be warranted depending on the kinship group.

Association between Familism and Mental Health in College Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Familism, also known in the literature as allocentrism, is the cultural propensity of a society to place the family at the center of its value system. Adherence to this value has been related to less depressive symptomatology in young people; however, these results are not conclusive, since it has also been found that the influence of familism on depressive symptoms is more indirect than direct. This study aimed to explore the direct relationships between familism (allocentrism and idiocentrism) and mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress). Methodologically, the study had a non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design. A sample of 451 Chilean university students responded to an instrument composed of the subscales allocentrism, idiocentrism, depression, anxiety, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that family allocentrism was positively and significantly associated with depression (γ = 0.112, p < 0.05), anxiety (γ = 0.209, p < 0.001), and stress (γ = 0.212, p < 0.001), and family idiocentrism was negatively and significantly linked with depression (γ = -0.392, p < 0.001), anxiety (γ = -0.368, p < 0.001), and stress (γ = -0.408, p < 0.001). These findings contribute to supporting actions to reduce negative symptomatology and promote greater well-being in university students.

Family caregivers of people with dementia in the context of the sociocultural stress and coping model: An examination of gender differences.

The study assessed gender differences in the associations between familism dimensions, dysfunctional thoughts, and resource and outcome variables in 190 Spanish dementia family caregivers. A theoretical model was tested through path analysis, obtaining an excellent fit of the model to the data. Higher scores in the familial obligations dimension were associated with lower self-efficacy for self-care and obtaining respite and leisure frequency, and higher anxious and depressive feelings, in female caregivers only. Significant between-gender differences were obtained, suggesting that female caregivers holding strong familistic values are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of caregiving compared to male caregivers.

Parental Warmth and Developmental Change in Familism Values: Latinx Adolescents in an Emerging Immigrant Community.

This study examined the developmental changes of familism values across adolescence among Latinx adolescents from an emerging immigrant community, and how changes in parental warmth were associated with changes in familism values. The sample included 547 Latinx adolescents. Multilevel model results indicated that familism values showed a linear decline from 6th to 10th grade. Between-person analyses showed that parental warmth was related to the higher initial levels of familism values but unrelated to changes in familism values. At the within-person level, on the occasions when adolescents report higher parental warmth, they also report higher familism values. This work highlights the importance of parental warmth for socializing developmental changes in Latinx adolescents' familism values in an emerging immigrant community context.

Family functioning and psychosocial symptoms among Latinx patients coping with advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This brief report aims to describe and determine the association of family functioning (e.g., cohesion and expressiveness) with psychosocial needs among Spanish Latinx patients coping with advanced cancers. METHODS: Descriptive and correlation analyses were performed on data from 103 patients coping with advanced cancer (Stages III and IV). The measures used were the Family Relationships Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General. RESULTS: Results indicated that most of the participants had low family function (65%). Participants with higher family functioning (35%) had high levels of quality of life [r(103) .318, p < .002]. A higher level of quality of life was also strongly associated with lower levels of anxiety [r(95) -.653, p < .000], lower levels of depression [r(95) -.733, p < .000], and lower levels of hopelessness [r(95) -.585, p = .000]. A total of 22.3% of Latinx advanced cancer patients reported poor cohesiveness; those with low cohesiveness also had higher levels of depression [r(103) -.28, p = .004] and anxiety [r(103) -.27, p = .005]. Correlations between expressiveness and hopelessness were significant; namely, those with higher expressiveness had lower hopelessness [r(103) -.274, p = .005]. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Findings present a high correlation between family functioning and psychosocial symptoms.