Building a nest in a storm: The impact of immigration‐related stress on Latino mothers' parenting

Abstract

Latina/o immigrant mothers in the United States (U.S.) often experience discrimination, which results in deleterious impacts on their parenting practices. Because of the cumulative impact of immigration‐related stress, there is a need for research aimed at identifying specific contextual stressors that have the greatest impact on Latina/o immigrant parenting. Further, given significant barriers to access mental health services, there is an urgency to comprehend how pre‐existing family strengths might counteract these parenting shortcomings in Latina/o families. Accordingly, we examined in these investigation‐specific pathways through which immigration‐related stress affects maternal parenting practices, and how emotional and relational processes within families might act as predecessors to positive parenting practices within a context of adversity. This study is embedded within a larger program of research aimed at culturally adapting evidence‐based parenting programs for low‐income Latina/o immigrants. Our sample consisted of 71 Mexican‐origin Latina/o mothers, residents of an urban setting in the Midwest. According to Bayesian estimated path analysis, immigration‐related stress was associated with parenting stress and emotional support, while emotional support, parenting stress, and the co‐parenting alliance were associated with positive parenting practices. Indirect effects demonstrate that immigration‐related stress is negatively associated with positive parenting practices when mediated by parenting stress and emotional support. Current findings highlight the need to carefully examine the impact of immigration‐related stress on the parenting practices of Latina/o immigrant families and the need to inform parent training interventions accordingly.

Well-being and contexts of development of U.S. citizen children in Mexico following parental deportation or voluntary relocation.

“…We found an association of parenting practices with age, but that can be better explained through the process of individuation and autonomy in childhood development (Fuentes-Balderrama, Turnbull-Plaza, et al, 2023). Nonetheless, studies should explore the role of these and other parenting practices in USCC's problem behaviors and if there are differences between groups in these relationships, as parenting in these mixed-status families is unique given the biculturality and history of immigration-related stress while living in the United States (Fuentes-Balderrama, Vanderziel, & Parra-Cardona, 2023).…”

Navigating health and well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Experiences of Latina immigrant mothers in rural Midwestern communities

“…Researchers have considered the influence of gender on the roles of Latino parents (Abrego, 2016; Berger Cardoso et al, 2018; Fuentes‐Balderrama et al, 2022; Pereyra et al, 2019) within the larger U.S. societal context. Fuentes‐Balderrama et al (2022) stated that “first‐generation Latino fathers are more likely to be the primary breadwinners in Latina/o immigrant families, with mothers assuming primary responsibility for caretaking tasks” (p. 3). Latina mothers are often referred to as “keepers of the culture and carriers of collective healing experiences” (Bushy, 1991, p. 135).…”