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Dissertation
Family Coping as a Protective Factor for Poor Children
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
  • Catherine DeCarlo Santiago, University of Denver
Date of Award
1-1-2010
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
First Advisor
Martha E. Wadsworth, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Stephen Shirk
Third Advisor
Arthur Jones
Fourth Advisor
Karen Mallah
Fifth Advisor
Jeff Jenson
Keywords
  • Coping,
  • Adjustment,
  • Poverty,
  • Children
Subject Categories
Abstract

This study examined family influences on coping and adjustment among 90 low-income Latino middle school children (46% Female; Average age = 11.38, SD = .66) and their primary caregivers (93% Female; Average age = 36.12, SD = 6.13). All participants identified as Hispanic/Latino, with 75% of families identifying as Mexican-origin Latino, 77% of parents identifying as immigrants, and 32% of children identifying immigrants. All children participating in the study were receiving free or reduced lunch, a poverty indicator. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that family reframing is related to fewer symptoms of psychopathology and that familism enhances the protective effect of family reframing, while passive appraisal is linked to worse functioning. Path analyses showed that family reframing also has indirect effects on symptoms through child primary control coping. Additional analyses identified family mobilizing support and family ethnic socialization as potential contributors to child secondary control coping. Family mobilizing support may also be helpful for single-parent families, while family spiritual support is helpful for immigrant families. Qualitative findings from an initial focus group and from the larger sample are also discussed. Results are discussed with regard to the implications of this research for preventive interventions with families in poverty. Understanding the protective links of family coping and cultural strengths to mental health outcomes of poor children can influence intervention or prevention programming and policy targeting at-risk youth and families.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder
Catherine DeCarlo Santiago
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
en
File Size
76 p.
Discipline
Clinical Psychology
Citation Information
Catherine DeCarlo Santiago. "Family Coping as a Protective Factor for Poor Children" (2010)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/catherine-santiago/62/