Family as a Buffer or Burden: Trauma Exposure and Mental Health Among Latino Immigrants in the U.S

The impact of trauma on immigrants' mental health is well-documented, but less is known about how pre- and post-migration trauma affects mental health within the context of family relationships.

The objective of the study is to examine the role of family dynamics in shaping the association between trauma exposure and psychological distress among Latino immigrants in the U.S.

This study is based on a sample of Latino immigrants (N = 1,569) from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS; 2002-2003). Moderation and mediation analyses were performed to test the associations between trauma exposure, family relationships, and psychological distress.

Both pre-migration trauma and post-migration trauma were significantly associated with greater levels of psychological distress. While family cohesion was not directly linked to distress, it moderated the impact of trauma exposure, with high family cohesion reducing distress from both pre-and post-migration trauma. Family conflict was not only directly associated with increased levels of distress but also mediated 35% of the relationship between post-migration trauma and distress (indirect effect = 0.458, p < .05, 95% CI [0.104, 0.812]). Furthermore, conflictual family relationships exacerbated the detrimental mental health impacts of both pre- and post-migration trauma.

The mediating and moderating role of family relationships in the adverse mental health impacts of trauma exposure among Latino immigrants underscores the need for culturally tailored, family-centered interventions that enhance family bonds and manage conflicts to mitigate trauma-related psychological distress in this vulnerable population.