The protective effects of social support and family functioning on parenting stress among Hispanic/Latino/a American immigrant parents with traumatic life experiences: A mediation analysis

Abstract

AbstractDespite high rates of traumatic experiences reported among Hispanic/Latino/a immigrants in the U.S., the effect of post‐traumatic stress on parenting stress among Hispanic/Latino/a immigrant parents with young children has been overlooked. The present study tested the direct and indirect relationships of self‐reported maternal post‐traumatic stress symptoms on parenting stress, and the mediating role of protective factors among Hispanic/Latino/a mothers with young children. Baseline data collected from mothers participating in a community‐based child‐parent dyadic intervention were analyzed. Measures included the post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist, the Protective Factors Survey, and the Parenting Stress Index‐Short Form (PSI). The sample included 80 mothers with a child between ages 0–6 years. About 75% of these mothers were migrants from Central America. A multivariate regression analysis showed that maternal post‐traumatic stress symptoms predicted higher levels of PSI, and two protective factors (social support and family functioning/resilience) fully mediated the relationship between maternal post‐traumatic stress symptoms and PSI. Higher social support and family functioning/resiliency may have protective effects on Hispanic/Latino/a mothers with post‐traumatic stress, leading to lower levels of stress related to parenting. Findings underscore the importance of interventions that enhance access to social support and promote family functioning/resilience for Hispanic/Latino/a immigrant mothers with trauma histories to cope better with parenting stress.