Although there is a plethora of research on resiliency, there are few studies that examine this concept in Latino immigrant families in the United States. Using key terms such as immigrant, Hispanic, Latino, and resiliency, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify characteristics of resilience and understand how these factors uniquely protect Latino immigrant families against stressors related to the migration and assimilation processes. Research on resilience among Latino immigrant families indicates 4 major domains: individual characteristics, family strengths, cultural factors, and community supports. A deeper understanding of how these risk and protective factors contribute to resilience with Latino immigrant families will increase the cultural competence of policy, practice, and research with this population. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlegríaM., CaninoG., ShroutP. E., WooM., DuanN., VilaD., . (2008). Prevalence of mental illness in immigrant and non-immigrant U.S. Latino groups.American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(3), 359–369.
2.
AlfaroE., Umaña-TaylorA., & BámacaM. (2006). The influence of academic support on Latino adolescents’ academic motivation.Family Relations, 55(3), 279–291.
3.
BehnkeA., MacDermidS., ColtraneS., ParkeR., DuffyS., & WidamanK. (2008). Family cohesion in the lives of Mexican American and European American parents.Journal of Marriage and Family, 70(4), 1045–1059.
4.
BenderD. E., & CastroD. (2000). Explaining the birth weight paradox: Latina immigrants’ perceptions of resilience and risk.Journal of Immigrant Health, 2(3), 155–173.
5.
BernardB. (1997). Drawing forth resilience in all our youth.Reclaiming Children and Youth, 6(1), 29–31.
6.
Blanco-VegaC. O., Castro-OlivoS. M., & MerrellK. W. (2008). Socialemotional needs of Latino immigrant adolescents: A sociocultural model for development and implementation of culturally specific interventions.Journal of Latinos and Education, 7(1), 43–61.
7.
BoscarinoJ., & AdamsR (2009). PTSD onset and course following the World Trade Center disaster: Findings and implications for future research.Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 44(10), 887–898.
8.
BottrellD. (2009). Understanding “marginal” perspectives towards a social theory of resilience.Qualitative Social Work, 8(3), 321–339.
9.
CabreraN. L., & PadillaA. M. (2004). Entering and succeeding in the “culture of college”: The story of two Mexican heritage students.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 26(2), 152–170.
10.
CampbellW. S. (2008). Lessons in resilience: Undocumented Mexican women in South Carolina.Affilia, 23(3), 231–241.
11.
CappsR., FixM., OstJ., Reardon-AndersonJ., & PasselJ. (2004). The health and well-being of young children of immigrants. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.
12.
CastroF. G., GarfinkleJ., NaranjoD., RollinsM., BrookJ. S., & BrookD. W. (2007). Cultural traditions as “protective factors” among Latino children of illicit drug users.Substance Use and Misuse, 42(4), 621–642.
13.
CatterallJ. S. (1998). Risk and resilience in student transitions to high school.American Journal of Education, 106(2), 302–333.
14.
CeballoR. (2004). From barrios to Yale: The role of parenting strategies in Latino families.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 26(2), 171–186.
15.
ChapmanM., & PerreiraK (2005). The well-being of immigrant Latino youth: A framework to inform practice.Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 86(1), 104–111.
16.
ChavkinN. F., & GonzalezJ. (2000). Mexican immigrant youth and resiliency: Research and promising programs. Charleston, WV: ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools.
17.
Clauss-EhlersC. (2003). Promoting ecologic health resilience for minority youth: Enhancing health care access through the school health center.Psychology in the Schools, 40(3), 265–278.
18.
CoieJ. D., WattN. F., WestS. G., HawkinsJ. D., AsarnowJ. R., MarkmanH. J., . (1993). The science prevention: A conceptual framework and some directions for national research program.American Psychologist, 48, 1013–1022.
19.
CorcoranJ., & Nichols-CaseboltA. (2004). Risk and resilience ecological framework for assessment and goal formulation.Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 21(3), 211–235.
20.
D'AngeloE., Llerena-QuinnR., ShapiroR., ColonF., RodriguezP., GallagherK., . (2009). Adaptation of the preventive intervention program for depression for use with predominately low-income Latino families.Family Process, 48(2), 269–291.
21.
EdwardsL. M., & RomeroA. J. (2008). Coping with discrimination among Mexican descent adolescents.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 30(1), 24–39.
22.
Espinoza-HeroldM. (2007). Stepping beyond si se puede: Dichos as a cultural resource in mother-daughter interaction in a Latino Family.Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 38(3), 260–277.
23.
FalicovC. J. (2005). Ambiguous loss: Risk and resilience in Latino immigrant families. In SuarezC.-Orozco, M. Suarez-Orozco, & Baolian QinD. (Eds.), The new immigration: An interdisciplinary reader (pp. 197–206). New York: Routledge.
24.
FaulknerM., & Berger Cardoso, J. (in press). Mexican American youth: The impact of generation and gender on early adult outcomes. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies.
25.
FergusS., & ZimmermanM. A. (2005). Adolescent resilience: A framework for understanding healthy development in the face of risk.Annual Review of Public Health, 26(1), 399–419.
26.
FixM., & ZimmermannW (2001). All under one roof: Mixed-status families in an era of reform.International Migration Review, 35(2), 397–419.
27.
FranquizM. E., & SalazarM. C. (2004). The transformative potential of humanizing pedagogy: Addressing the diverse needs of Chicano/Mexicano students.High School Journal, 87(4), 36–53.
28.
FraserM., KirbyL., & SmokowskiP. (2004). Risk and resiliency in childhood. In FraserM. (Ed.), Risk and resiliency in childhood: An ecological perspective (2nd ed.; pp. 13–66). Washington DC: National Association of Social Workers.
29.
Garcia CollC., LambertyG., JenkinsR., Pipes McAdooH., CrnicK., WasikB. H., . (1996). An integrative model for the study of developmental competencies in minority children.Child Development, 67(5), 1891–1914.
30.
Garcia CollC., & MagnusonK. (2005). The psychological experience of immigration: A developmental perspective. In SuarezM.-Orozco, C. Suarez-Orozco, & DesireeB. Q. (Eds.), The new immigration: An interdisciplinary reader (pp. 105–133). New York: Routledge.
31.
GonzalezR. (2009). Beyond affirmation: How the school context facilitates racial/ ethnic identity among Mexican American adolescents.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 31(5), 5–31.
32.
GonzalezR., & PadillaA. M. (1997). The academic resilience of Mexican-American high school students.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 19(3), 301–312.
33.
GordonM. (1964). Assimilation in American life: The role of race, religion, and national origin. New York: Oxford University Press.
34.
GuinnB., VincentV., & DugasD. (2009). Stress resilience among border Mexican American women.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 31, 228–243.
HeilemannM. V., FrutosL., LeeK. A., & KuryF. S. (2004). Protective strength factors, resources, and risks in relation to depressive symptoms among childbearing women of Mexican descent.Health Care for Women International, 25(1), 88–106.
37.
HeilemannM. V., LeeK. A., & KuryF. S. (2002). Strengths and vulnerabilities of women of Mexican descent in relation to depressive symptoms.Nursing Research, 51(3), 175–182.
38.
HeilemannM. V., LeeK. A., & KuryF. S. (2005). Strength factors among women of Mexican descent.Western Journal Nursing Research, 27(8), 949–965.
39.
HoughR. L., HazenA. L., SorianoF. I., WoodP. A., McCabeK., & YehM. (2002). Mental health services for Latino adolescents with psychiatric disorders.Psychiatric Services, 53, 1556–1562.
40.
HullP., KilbourneB., ReeceM., & HusainiB. (2008). Community involvement and adolescent mental health: Moderating effects of race/ethnicity and neighborhood disadvantage.Journal of Community Psychology, 36(4), 534–551.
41.
HummerR., BieglerM., De turkP., ForbesD., & FrisbieP. W. (1999). Race/ ethnicity, nativity and infant mortality in the United States.Social Forces, 77(3), 1083–1117.
42.
JenkinsJ. H., & CofresiN. (1998). The sociosomatic course of depression and trauma: A cultural analysis of suffering and resilience in the life of a Puerto Rican woman.Psychosomatic Medicine, 60(4), 439–447.
43.
KataokaS., ZhangL., & WellsK. (2002). Unmet needs for mental health care among U.S. children: Variation by ethnicity and health insurance.American Journal of Psychiatry, 159(9), 1548–1555.
44.
KellyM. S. (2007). Faith and rebellion: Protective and risk factors for the adolescent children of religiously observant Mexican-American immigrants.Social Work and Christianity, 34(3), 259–276.
45.
LindenbergC. S., GendropS. C., NencioliM., & AdamesZ. (1994). Substance abuse among inner-city Hispanic women: Exploring resiliency.Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 23(7), 609–616.
46.
LindenbergC. S., SolorzanoR. M., BearD., StricklandO., GalvisC., & PittmanK. (2002). Reducing substance use and risky sexual behavior among young, low-income, Mexican-American women: Comparison of two interventions.Applied Nursing Research, 15(3), 137–148.
47.
LutharS. S., & CicchettiD. (2000). The construct of resilience: Implications for interventions and social policies.Development and Psychopathology, 12(4), 857–885.
48.
LutharS. S., CicchettiD., & BeckerB. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future research.Child Development, 71(3), 543–562.
49.
MastenA. (2004). Regulatory process, risk, and resilience in adolescent development.Annual New York Academy of Science, 1021, 310–319.
50.
MastenA., BestK. M., & GarmezyN. (1990). Resilience and development: Contributions from the study of children who overcome adversity.Development and Psychopathology, 2, 425–444.
51.
MastenA., HubbardJ., GestS., TellegenA., GarmezyN., & RamirezM. (1999). Competence in the context of adversity: Pathways to resilience and maladaptation from childhood to late adolescence.Development and Psychopathology, 11(1), 143–169.
52.
MastenA., & ObradovicJ (2006). Competence and resilience in development.Annual New York Academy of Science, 1094, 13–27.
53.
PadillaY., & VillalobosG (2007). Cultural responses to health among Mexican American women and their children.Family and Community Health, 30(1), 24–33.
54.
Park-TaylorJ., WalshM. E., & VenturaA. B. (2007). Creating healthy acculturation pathways: Integrating theory and research to inform counselors’ work with immigrant children.Professional School Counseling, 11(1), 25–34.
55.
Parra-CardonaJ. R., BulockL. A., ImigD. R., VillarruelF. A., & GoldS. J. (2006). “Trabajando duro todos los dias”: Learning from the life experiences of Mexican-origin migrant families.Family Relations, 55(3), 361–375.
56.
ParsaiM., VoisineS., MarsigliaF., KulisS., & NieriT. (2009). The protective and risk effects of parents and peers on substance use, attitudes, and behaviors of Mexican and Mexican American female and male adolescents.Youth and Society, 40(3), 353–376.
57.
PasselJ. (2006). The size and characteristics of the unauthorized migrant population in the U.S.: Estimates based on the Current Population Survey. Washington, DC: The Pew Hispanic Center.
58.
PerezW., EspinozaR., RamosK., CoronadoH., & CortesR. (2009). Academic resilience among undocumented Latino students.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 31, 149–181.
59.
PerreiraK. M., ChapmanM. V., & SteinG. L. (2006). Becoming an American parent: Overcoming challenges and finding strength in a new immigrant Latino community.Journal of Family Issues, 27(10), 1383–1414.
60.
PlunkettS. W., & Bamaca-GomezM. Y. (2003). The relationship between parenting, acculturation, and adolescent academics in Mexican-origin immigrant families in Los Angeles.Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 25(2), 222–239.
61.
PortesA., & ZhouM (1993). The new second generation: Segmented assimilation and its variants.Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 530, 74–96.
62.
RumbautR. (1994). The crucible within: Ethnic identity, self esteem, and segmented assimilation among children of immigrants.International Migration Review, 28(4), 748–794.
63.
RumbautR. (2005). Turning points in the transition to adulthood: Determinants of educational attainment, incarceration, and early childbearing among children of immigrants.Ethnic and Racial Studies, 28(6), 1041–1086.
64.
SánchezB., EsparzaP., & ColónY. (2008). Natural mentoring under the microscope: An investigation of mentoring relationships and Latino adolescents’ academic performance.Journal of Community Psychology, 36(4), 468–482.
65.
SiantzM. (1997). Factors that impact developmental outcomes of immigrant children. In BoothA., CrouterA., & LandraleN. (Eds.), Immigration and the family: Research on policy and U.S. immigration (pp. 149–161). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
66.
Stanton-SalazarR., & SpinaS. (2003). Informal mentors and role models in the lives of urban Mexican-origin adolescents.Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 34(3), 231–254.
67.
Stanton-SalazarR., & SpinaS. (2005). Adolescent peer networks as a context for social and emotional support.Youth and Society, 36, 379–417.
68.
SullivanM. M., & RehmR. (2005). Mental health of undocumented Mexican immigrants.Advances in Nursing Science, 28(3), 240–251.
69.
TaxisJ. C., RewL., JacksonK., & KouzehananiK. (2004). Protective resources and perceptions of stress in a multi-ethnic sample of school-age children.Pediatric Nursing, 30(6), 477–487.
70.
ThompsonN. E., & GurneyA. G. (2003). “He is everything”: Religion's role in the lives of immigrant youth.New Directions for Youth Development, 100, 75–90.
71.
TruebaE. (1998). Mexican immigrants from El Rincon: A case study of resilience and empowerment.TESOL Journal, 7(3), 12–17.
72.
TruebaH. (2002). Multiple ethnic, racial, and cultural identities in action: From marginality to a new cultural capital in modern society.Journal of Latinos and Education, 1(1), 7–28.
73.
Tummala-NarraP. (2007). Conceptualizing trauma and resilience across contexts: A multicultural perspective. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 14(1/2), 33–53.
74.
Umaña-TaylorA. J., & UpdegraffK. A. (2007). Latino adolescents’ mental health: Exploring the interrelations among discrimination, ethnic identity, cultural orientation, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms.Journal of Adolescence, 30(4), 549–567.
75.
VillenasS., & DeyhleD (1999). Critical race theory and ethnographies challenging the stereotypes: Latino families, schooling, resilience and resistance.Curriculum Inquiry, 29(4), 413–445.
