Fortalezas Familiares Program: Building Sociocultural and Family Strengths in Latina Women with Depression and Their Families

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe Fortalezas Familiares (FF; Family Strengths), a community-based prevention program designed to address relational family processes and promote wellbeing among Latino families when a mother has depression. Although depression in Latina women is becoming increasingly recognized, risk and protective mechanisms associated with children’s outcomes when a mother has depression are not well understood for Latino families. We begin by reviewing the literature on risk and protective psychosocial mechanisms by which maternal depression may affect Latino youth, using family systems theory and a developmental psychopathology framework with an emphasis on sociocultural factors shaping family processes. Next, we describe the theoretical basis and development of the FF program, a community-based 12-week intervention for Latina immigrant women with depression, other caregivers, and their children. Throughout this article, we use a case study to illustrate a Latina mother’s vulnerability to depression and the family’s response to the FF program. Recommendations for future research and practice include consideration of sociocultural processes in shaping both outcomes of Latino families and their response to interventions.

Depressive Symptoms and Weight Status Among Women Recently Immigrating to the US

“…Previous research in other samples suggests that relationships between depressive symptoms and obesity are likely bidirectional. If depressive symptoms predict increased weight status prospectively, this suggests that interventions targeting depression through mental health counseling or preventive approaches (e.g., social support; Valdez, Abegglen, & Hauser, 2013) may also decrease obesity risk. Such processes could also bolster intervention compliance: for example, lowering depressive symptoms may boost participation in intervention activities and adherence.…”

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of the Fortalezas Familiares Intervention for Latino Families Facing Maternal Depression

“…Negative changes in family communication, nurturance, activities and routines, and cohesion have been documented as both contributing to maternal depression and being exacerbated by it (Valdez, Abegglen, & Hauser, in press). These changes have been associated with long-term negative outcomes in children, including impairments in their mental health, physical health, and social and occupational functioning (Riley et al, 2008; Weissman et al, 2006).…”

“…Maternal depression, and associated sociocultural processes, in turn, may heighten family stress and negative family interactions, including decreased warmth and communication, increased conflict, and an inadequate understanding of family stress and maternal depression (Valdez et al, in press). This process is consistent with family systems theory, in which maternal depression is both exacerbated by and conducive to negative family relationships (Nichols & Schwartz, 2008).…”

Family resilience and chemical dependency: perception of mental health professionals

“…Regarding the systemic perspective, the family built resilience in an interactional process, based on family strengths resulting from family cohesion (20) , understood as unity of its members or emotional connection between them (15) . A study defines family resilience as the family's ability to trigger and mobilize strength when the life of a member is threatened by a critical and stressful event (16) .…”