Interventions Addressing Acculturative Stress in Latinx Immigrants Residing in the US: An Evidence Map

As Latinx immigrants spend more time in the US, their health erodes due to acculturative stress, contributing to health inequities. Recent interventions aim to buffer these effects and enhance resilience, preserving their relative health advantage. To understand these efforts, we created an evidence map detailing the scope and distribution of interventions addressing acculturative stress in Latinx immigrants, highlighting gaps in the literature and proposing a research agenda. We systematically reviewed the literature from 2000 through 2024. We screened empirical studies using pre-determined eligibility criteria. Articles meeting inclusion criteria were abstracted for relevant data elements to characterize the literature (e.g., quantity, distribution, sample, methodology, intervention characteristics). We screened 7,870 articles, of which 34 met our inclusion criteria. About a third of studies (39%) were one-arm designs, whereas another third (35%) included trials comparing an active condition to at least one other condition. About half of studies targeted parents or families (50%), another followed by adults (43%) and youth (3%). The interventions addressed a broad range of acculturative stressors, with the most common being family-related stress (85%), parental stress (78%), and pre-migration stress (56%). A primary focus of these interventions was incorporating cultural content, facilitating immigrants' narratives related to their migration process, and providing psychoeducation about acculturative stress. Most interventions utilized cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy components, were brief, implemented in diverse settings, and used professionals, paraprofessionals, and peer educators. An increased focus on rigor and dissemination of these interventions holds promise for reducing acculturative stress, which is a known driver of health inequities among Latinxs.