Theses and Dissertations from UMD

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Influence of Latinx Fathers' Behaviors, Cognitions, Affect, and Family Congruence on Youth Energy Balance-Related Health Outcomes
(2022) Rodriguez, Matthew Rene; Roy, Kevin; Hurtado Choque, Ghaffar Ali; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
For decades, researchers have studied and theorized about the ways fathers interact with children and other members of the family. While this research provides important evidence, few father involvement studies have included Latinx fathers. Numerous father involvement conceptual frameworks have helped us understand the ways fathers interact with their families. Much of this research has focused on fathers' behaviors, but research suggests other domains need more investigation, such as fathers' cognitions and affect. Understanding these additional domains of father involvement can provide important evidence for understanding the ways fathers influence the health of children. Fathers influence the health of their children within different cultural and socio-political contexts. When considering Latinx father involvement within a social determinants of health approach, research has encouraged focusing on upstream factors that can contribute to the health of Latinx families. Addressing these upstream factors can shape the health and wellbeing of children. Currently, Latinx youth suffer disproportionately from obesity compared to all other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. Through investigating Latinx father involvement, I fill an important gap by researching the extent to which Latinx fathers' affect, behaviors, and cognitions shape youth health outcomes. I also investigate theorized moderators that may influence the relationship between fathers' involvement and youth health outcomes. Using a cross sectional study design with a community-based sample of Latinx fathers and youth (ages 10-14) (n=193), I use latent moderation structural analyses to test the theorized causal mechanisms.
AN INTERSECTIONALITY, MINORITY STRESS, AND LIFE-COURSE THEORY INFORMED LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS OF STRESS(OR) AND PSYCHOSOCIAL BUFFERING FACTORS AMONG FIRST-GENERATION LATINX IMMIGRANT YOUTH FROM THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE: EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDALITY
(2022) Salerno, John P.; Boekeloo, Bradley O; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
In alignment with the intersectionality theoretical framework, first-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle (i.e., El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) may suffer from complex forms of vulnerability as a result of their multiple marginalized social identities and statuses. Indeed, consistent with the life-course perspective, immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle face unique risks for experiencing cumulative external stressors across the life-course in the context of the phases of migration, including pre- to post-migration victimization, and immigration-related family separation (e.g., forced family separation). The minority stress theory adds the potential for experiencing immigrant minority identity/status-related stress, such as discrimination or negative feelings attributed to being an immigrant, specifically during the post-migration context in the U.S., which could exacerbate mental health by adding to cumulative stress. Yet, the post-migration time period may be an important turning point for Latinx immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle, during which psychosocial buffering resources, like school, peer, and family support, and ethnic identity importance may have a strong and distinct impact that could significantly mitigate the cumulative mental health effects of life-course and minority stress(ors). Considering the increasing surge of immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle, which account for the majority of youth being apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as grave concerns about their experiences of vulnerability and mental health, it is of utmost importance to utilize intersectionality, minority stress, and life-course theories to identify and understand the psychosocial risk and protective factors that can mitigate or exacerbate their mental health during post-migration in the U.S. To this end, in collaboration with a community-partner and a high school in Hyattsville, Maryland, primary surveys assessing external life-course stressors across the phases of migration (i.e., pre- to post-migration victimization, and family separation), post-migration immigrant-related minority stress (i.e., immigrant-related discrimination and negative immigrant stress-related feelings), and post-migration psychosocial buffering factors (i.e., family, peer, and school support, and ethnic identity importance) among first-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle were administered (N = 172). In Paper 1, the aim was to identify potential intersections of minority stress (post-migration immigrant minority stress) and psychosocial buffering resources (family, peer, and school support, and ethnic identity importance), and their associations with external stressors (pre- to post-migration victimization and immigration-related family separation). Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify and describe latent profiles that varied at the intersections of post-migration immigrant minority stress and psychosocial buffering factors, and their associations with pre- to post- migration victimization, and family separation stressors. In Paper 2, the aim was to understand whether latent profiles characterized by the intersections of immigrant minority stress and psychosocial buffering factors, and external stressors (pre- to post-migration victimization and immigration-related family separation) jointly predicted mental health outcomes. ANOVA models were conducted to examine the associations of latent profile membership, pre- to post-migration victimization, and family separation with mental health outcomes (i.e., PTSD, depression, anxiety, and emotional problem symptoms) when all were included in the model as independent predictors. In Paper 3, the aim was to understand whether latent profile membership and external stressors jointly predicted suicidality. Logistic regression models were conducted to examine the associations of latent profile membership, pre- to post-migration victimization, and family separation with suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation) when all were included in the model as independent predictors. Paper 1 findings revealed a three latent-profile model characterized by post-migration 1) moderate immigrant minority stress and low psychosocial buffering factors (moderate stress/low buffer), 2) moderate immigrant minority stress and moderate psychosocial buffering factors (moderate stress/moderate buffer), and 3) low immigrant minority stress and high psychosocial buffering factors (low stress/high buffer). Post-migration victimization was significantly associated with latent profile membership, such that those in the low stress/high buffer profile group (11%) were least likely to experience post-migration victimization compared to the moderate stress/moderate buffer (most likely; 49%) and moderate stress/low buffer (33%) profile groups (p < .001). Overall prevalence of in-transit victimization (7.70%) was too low for valid statistical assessment. Pre-migration victimization and family separation were not significantly associated with latent profile membership. Paper 2 factorial ANOVA analyses demonstrated that latent profile membership post-migration victimization, and family separation were statistically significant predictors of mental health outcomes (PTSD, depression, anxiety, and emotional problem symptoms) when all were included in the models. Bonferroni-corrected factorial ANOVA test findings revealed that youth in the low stress/high buffer profile group were significantly less likely to experience PTSD (p < .001, p = .003), depression (p < .001, p < .001), anxiety (p < .001, p < .001), and emotional problem symptoms (p = .002, p = .041) compared to youth in both the moderate stress/moderate buffer and moderate stress/low buffer profile groups (respectively). The moderate stress/low buffer profile group did not differ significantly from the moderate stress/moderate buffer profile group in-terms of any mental health outcome. Post-migration victimization was independently and positively associated with PTSD (p = .010), anxiety (p < .001), and emotional problem (p = .042) symptoms (but not depression symptoms), and forced family separation was independently and positively associated with PTSD (p = .026), anxiety (p = .017), and depression symptoms (p = .009; but not emotional problem symptoms) in factorial ANOVA. Pre-migration victimization was not a significant predictor of any mental health outcomes, and in-transit victimization prevalence was too low for valid statistical assessment of its association with mental health outcomes. Paper 3 multivariable logistic regression analyses demonstrated that latent profile membership was the only statistically significant predictor of suicidality. The low stress/high buffer profile group was significantly less likely to experience suicidality compared to both the moderate stress/moderate buffer (87.8% decrease in the odds; OR = 0.122; p < .001) and moderate stress/low buffer (95.6% decrease in the odds; OR = 0.044; p < .001) profile groups in multivariable logistic regression. The moderate stress/low buffer profile group did not differ significantly from the moderate stress/moderate buffer profile group in-terms of suicidality. Post-migration victimization was no longer a statistically significant predictor of suicidality in the multivariable logistic regression model. Pre-migration victimization and family separation were not significant predictors of suicidality, and in-transit victimization prevalence was too low for valid statistical assessment of its association with suicidality. Considering the results of all three studies in Papers 1-3, latent profiles, characterized by the intersections of immigrant minority stress and psychosocial buffering resources, were a significant independent predictor of all mental health outcomes and suicidality. Yet, external stressors, particularly post-migration victimization (PTSD, anxiety, and emotional problem symptoms) and immigration-related family separation (PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms) were also significant independent predictors of mental health outcomes, suggesting that these factors also explain post-migration mental health outcomes to some degree above and beyond latent profile membership. In totality, findings strongly suggest that further exploration of post-migration immigrant minority stress and psychosocial buffering resources is urgently warranted to identify ways of overcoming the effects of externalized immigrant-related stressors and reducing mental health burden among first-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle, a highly vulnerable population. Consistent with minority stress and intersectionality theories, protective associations with mental health were present when post-migration immigrant minority stress was low and psychosocial buffering was high, but these protective associations were lost when immigrant minority stress increased to moderate level and when psychosocial buffering decreased to moderate or low level. From another viewpoint, there were risk associations with mental health when post-migration immigrant minority stress was moderate and psychosocial buffering was low or moderate, but these risk associations were reversed toward being protective when immigrant minority stress lowered to low level and when psychosocial buffering increased to high level. That post-migration victimization and forced family separation remained positive predictors of mental health outcomes in multivariable analyses highlights that these external life-course stressors exacerbated mental health above and beyond the associations of post-migration immigrant minority stress and psychosocial buffering latent profile membership alone. Findings provide valuable information for policy and intervention development and reform in the U.S. that focuses on factors that can be intervened on during the post-migration phase in the U.S. (as opposed to less intervenable factors that occurred during pre and in-transit migration) to positively impact mental health and wellbeing among first-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle. When immigrant youth experience low immigrant minority stress, strong peer and family support networks, as well as supportive schools and feeling that their foreign, cultural, and ethnic identities are celebrated and welcomed, this could have a significant protective effect toward their mental health and suicidality. However, if youth are facing low levels of these psychosocial buffering experiences and moderate (or potentially high) levels of immigrant minority stress, they may experience negative effects that hinder their mental health and suicidality. Additionally, post-migration victimization and forced family separation are particularly impactful predictors of mental health above and beyond the effects of latent profile group membership alone, which indicate the urgent need for mental health services and support resources that address these stressful and traumatic life-course experiences among first-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle. Findings elucidate post-migration immigrant minority stress and psychosocial buffering pathways for future development and evaluation to improve Northern Triangle immigrant youths’ mental health and suicidality.
Evaluating immigrant-specific adverse childhood experiences as a social determinant of health among Latino immigrant families
(2022) Conway, C. Andrew; Lew, Amy; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
Research consistently demonstrates the critical role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), traditionally defined as exposure to abuse, neglect, and household risk factors, in shaping overall health and well-being throughout life and even across generations. However, our current conceptualization and measurement of ACEs are based on items initially examined in a primarily white, middle-class, highly educated sample. This strategy may provide a limited understanding of childhood adversity within marginalized groups. This study aimed to examine the relationship between ACEs (both traditionally studied ACEs and immigrant-specific ACEs) and the psychological well-being of Latino immigrant adolescents. The relationship between parental experiences of ACEs, child ACEs, and child psychological well-being was also explored. Data comes from a community sample of 338 Latino immigrant adolescents. These youth completed an 11-item measure of traditional ACEs (ACE-T), a novel 13-item measure of immigrant-specific ACEs (ACE-I), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and health risk behavior items as part of the intake process for a positive youth development program. Data on parent ACEs was available for a subsample (n¬ = 112). Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationship between the ACEs measures and the psychological and health risk outcomes. Immigrant youth, on average, reported more adversities on the ACE-I measure than the ACE-T measure (3.6 vs. 1.6). Both ACE-T and ACE-I scores were positively related to increased emotional issues (standardized coefficients were .24 and .25, respectively). Only ACE-T scores were related to increased conduct problems and peer relationship problems. There was no relationship between adolescents' ACE-T or ACE-I scores with prosocial or health risk behaviors. The parent's ACE-T scores were positively related to the child's ACE-T scores (b = .18). These findings suggest that essential early adverse experiences for immigrants, which have not been considered, impact adolescents' psychological well-being. Broadening our conceptualization and measurement of ACEs among immigrant populations could provide valuable insight into social determinants of health and avenues for intervention for immigrant adolescents and families.
Uncovering Typologies of Civically Engaged Latinx/a/o College Graduates
(2020) Guzman, Amilcar; Cabrera, Alberto F; Education Policy, and Leadership; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This dissertation examined how Latinx/a/o college graduates engage civically. Guided by Morton’s (1995) paradigms of service, Drezner’s (2018) philanthropic mirroring framework, and Moll et al.’s (1992) funds of knowledge, I investigated how Latinx/a/o college graduates engage civically in their communities and with their alma maters. Through an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, I found that Latinx/a/o college graduates vote, volunteer, advocate, donate money, serve as cultural and political resources, and run for elected office. I also identified five typologies, or classes, of civically engaged Latinx/a/o college graduates: Activistas, Mentores, Politicos, Votantes, and Indiferentes. This study sought to address analytical and methodological shortcomings in the existing literature on Latinx/a/os and how college graduates engage civically. Overall, this dissertation expands the knowledge of Latinx/a/os’ civic engagement. Practitioners, researchers, and policymakers all have a role to play in fostering and supporting Latinx/a/o college graduates’ civic participation. Moreover, Latinx/a/o college graduates have the potential to serve as change agents that contribute to society and encourage their families and communities to do the same.
“WHAT’S SPANISH FOR AIDS?”: LATINO ACTIVISM AGAINST RACIALLY EXCLUSIVE HIV/AIDS HEALTHCARE OUTREACH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., 1981-1995
(2019) Brandli, Elizabeth Jane; Rosemblatt, Karin A; History; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This research examines the racially exclusive health outreach practices in Washington, D.C. during the HIV/AIDS crisis that created barriers to healthcare for Latino residents. After analyzing the ways in which mainstream organizations failed to disseminate educational materials within Latino communities, this thesis turns to the ways in which Latino activists combatted exclusion and performed healthcare outreach within their communities. Finally, this research considers the national significance of the D.C. region on Latino HIV/AIDS outreach and the importance of immigrants and transregional migrants to the nation’s capital.
Examining the Food-Insecurity Obesity Paradox among Latino Immigrants
(2019) Amador, Maria Aileen; Garza, Mary A; King-Marshall, Evelyn C; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
Obesity is linked to chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers (breast, kidney, and liver). Food insecurity refers to lack of access to nutritious and safe food. Latinos are a rapidly growing population in the US with higher levels of food insecurity than the national average, and higher obesity rates than non-Latino white adults. The “food insecurity-obesity” is a paradoxical relationship seen in rising obesity and correspondingly high food insecurity rates. We examined demographic factors, acculturation, stress, dietary habits, and food access among Latina immigrants to understand this paradox. This sub-analysis (n=128) found that education level (p=0.03) and marital status (p=0.08) were significantly and marginally significantly associated with food security level. Additionally, this analysis helped to better describe a population that lacks research. A better understanding of the “food insecurity-obesity” paradox and related factors will inform future culturally-tailored interventions to address obesity among Latina immigrants.
FOUR ESSAYS ON HOW PRESIDENTIAL POLICY REPRESENTATION ON THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION AFFECTS LATINO POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
(2018) Rodriguez, Antonoi; Rouse, Stella M.; Government and Politics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
I bridge the presidency literature and priming literature to develop a new model for understanding how the executive office can prime the public's attitudes. The Executing Priming Theory (EPT) hypothesizes that the president can subtly alter the public's views toward him by responding to the public’s policy demands through the use of his executive powers. These actions will often draw news coverage from the media, taking the president's policy actions directly to the public and raising the salience of these issues. In turn, this affects the criteria that will be used to evaluate the president's performance and influence political behavior. In four essays, based on data from the Pew Research Center, I find an association between Latino approval of President Obama’s policies on immigration and their political behavior. These findings present a new way of thinking about the president's policy responsiveness. Previous presidents have been found to respond to policy demands with symbolic actions (Cohen 1997) rather than substantive policies or motivated primarily by partisan factors (Wood 2009). I demonstrate here that President Obama utilized unilateral actions to provide Latinos with substantive policy representation to improve his standing within this community. Overall, I find that substantive presidential policy representation influences not only Latino but also non-Latino political behavior. The findings presented in these four essays demonstrate that substantive policy representation by the president matters.
Home Literacy Activities in Latino Immigrant Families: Contributions to Toddlers’ Expressive and Receptive Language Skills
(2016) Malin, Jenessa Laura; Cabrera, Natasha J; Human Development; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
The development of language is a critical component of early childhood, enabling children to communicate their wishes and desires, share thoughts, and build meaning through linguistic interactions with others. A wealth of research has highlighted the importance of children’s early home experiences in fostering language development. This literature emphasizes the importance of a stimulating and supportive home environment in which children are engaged in literacy activities such as reading, telling stories, or singing songs with their parents. This study examined the association between low-income Latino immigrant mothers’ and fathers’ home literacy activities and their children’s receptive and expressive language skills. It also examined the moderating influence of maternal (i.e., reading quality and language quality) and child (engagement during reading, interest in literacy activities) characteristics on this association. This study included observational mother-child reading interactions, child expressive and receptive language assessments, and mother- and father-reported survey data. Controlling for parental education, multiple regression analyses revealed a positive association between home literacy activities and children’s receptive and expressive language skills. The findings also revealed that mothers’ reading quality and children’s engagement during reading (for expressive language skills only) moderated this association. Findings from this study will help inform new interventions, programs, and policies that build on Latino families’ strengths.
“Never Give up:” The Strengths and Strategies Used Among Undocumented College Students From Central America to Access and Persist in U.S. Higher Education
(2015) Hernandez, Belkis Pamela; Espino, Michelle M.; Education Policy, and Leadership; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
The purpose of this study was to identify the strengths and strategies that undocumented college students from Central America used to access and persist in United States higher education. A multiple-case study design was used to conduct in-depth, semi-structured interviews and document collection from ten persons residing in Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, and Washington. Yosso’s (2005, 2006) community cultural wealth conceptual framework, an analytical and methodological tool, was used to uncover assets used to navigate the higher education system. The findings revealed that participants activated all forms of capital, with cultural capital being the least activated yet necessary, to access and persist in college. Participants also activated most forms of capital together or consecutively in order to attain financial resources, information and social networks that facilitated college access. Participants successfully persisted because they continued to activate forms of capital, displayed a high sense of agency, and managed to sustain college educational goals despite challenges and other external factors. The relationships among forms of capital and federal, state, and institutional policy contexts, which positively influenced both college access and persistence were not illustrated in Yosso’s (2005, 2006) community cultural wealth framework. Therefore, this study presents a modified community cultural wealth framework, which includes these intersections and contexts. In the spirit of Latina/o critical race theory (LatCrit) and critical race theory (CRT), the participants share with other undocumented students suggestions on how to succeed in college. This study can contribute to the growing research of undocumented college students, and develop higher education policy and practice that intentionally consider undocumented college students’ strengths to successfully navigate the institution.
THE NEW SOUTH: A CASE ANALYSIS OF LATINO STUDENTS ATTENDING A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY IN NORTH CAROLINA
(2013) Mena, Salvador Bienvenido; Komives, Susan; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Latino students attending a historically Black university in North Carolina. The study was guided by the revised campus climate framework by Milem, Chang, and Antonio (2005). A case study methodological research design was used to explore the following two research questions: (a) What is the Latino student experience at an HBCU that is intentionally seeking to promote Latino student success? (b) How is the campus climate, as defined by Milem et al. (2005), experienced by Latino students at an HBCU? Individual interviews with 13 students, 3 faculty, and 2 staff members were conducted along with the examination of the case site (e.g., review of the institution's strategic plan). The study revealed five areas of focus for understanding and enhancing the Latino student HBCU experience: 1. The decision-making process by Latino students for enrolling at an HBCU; 2. Latino student acclimation to the HBCU campus environment; 3. The cultural dissonance experienced by Latino students in the HBCU setting; 4. The benefits of diversity derived from Latino student enrollment at an HBCU; and 5. Latino student engagement within the HBCU environment. Recommendations for future research and practice based on these five identified areas were made.

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