About this poster

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Panel information
Panel 1. Context: Cross-Cultural, Neighborhood, and Social

Abstract

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Over the years, the Mexican-origin immigrant population has increased to officially represent one of the largest populations in the nation and the second-largest ethnic group in U.S. society (Rosenbloom & Batalova, 2022). It is established that Mexican origin immigrants face environmental stressors (Chang, 2019), health disparities (Howe et al., 2009), while also draw on their resilience (Cabrera et al., 2022). Therefore, prioritizing a comprehensive understanding of potential sources of resilience among immigrants from Mexican origins living in the borderlands is crucial. The specific sources examined in this paper are derived from their migration journey in different dimensions. Data was collected from (N=23) semi-structured interviews among Mexican-origin parents living in a Southwestern border community, where sources of resilience were informed in etiological and resilience frameworks. Results from this analysis will inform future research on sources of resilience among Mexican origin populations which may translate to improved community services and future research design. The ultimate goal is to boost mental health resources to promote resilience among historically marginalized immigrant populations.

Hypothesis:
How do Mexican-origin immigrants define or describe resilience within the context of their migration journey in the Arizona Borderlands? What themes emerge, and how immigrants' narratives contribute to a deeper understanding of resilience among immigrant communities?

Methods
Data analyzed are from the first qualitative aim of a longitudinal mixed method study named La Vida en la Frontera. This study implements a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach through collaboration among community partners from Campesinos Sin Fronteras (CSF) a grass roots organization in Yuma County, AZ and researchers from the University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson, AZ. The project was co- developed and implemented, from its inception, by community health workers (Promotoras de Salud) and researchers. The qualitative sample has a total of (N=30) interviews with Mexican Origin adults living along the Arizona-Mexico border region. This analysis focuses on participants who identify as parents (N=23).

The sources of resilience’s interview questions consisted in the collaboration with promotoras to learn about what resilience means among Mexican origin immigrant community, as the translation of the word can be complex to unpack and understand. Thus, the questions were developed in community with community health that were living and had similar experiences to the participants. The coding process will include three bilingual coders, in which biculturalism and binational approaches are contemplated. In addition, the translation will be also informed by multicultural team and collaboration of community health workers. The plan is to rely on the (n=15) mothers’ interviews (n=8) father interviews help us better understand the lived experiences in relation to the sources of resilience as a Mexican-origin immigrant parent in the Southwest borderland.

In addition, informed by previous resilience research projects done in Mexico, in the proximity of the borderland community and the collaborative methodological approach of CBPR (Brush et al., 2020). According to Community Based Participatory Research practices the study brings together multi-disciplinary lenses from the university with stakeholders and community health workers in the community. Thus, this work is a collaborative overarching transformation of research, practice, and policy for developmental science, particularly emphasizing strengths that promote equity and justice.

Results & Conclusions
Preliminary results have described the following themes as potential sources of resilience among Mexican-immigrant parents: Joy, inspiration for future, positivism, family support, perseverance, and spirituality, whichsupport the hypotheses. Future analysis or research project could potentially address greater emphasis among parental sources of resilience among immigrant community. The current project, this work will contribute to understanding support needs and assets for sources of resilience among Mexican-origin parents from underrepresented communities in the borderlands that might inform development of programs or interventions to bolster resilience processes.

Author information

Author	Role
Maria Belinda Vasquez, University of Arizona	Presenting author

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