Resilience in the Time of COVID-19: Familial Processes, Coping, and Mental Health in Latinx Adolescents

ObjectiveThis study investigated COVID-19 stressors and silver linings, familism values, familial resilience, and coping, and their relation to internalizing symptoms among Latinx youth.MethodA community sample of 135 Latinx adolescents completed online surveys 6-months apart (M age = 16, 59.3% female; majority U.S-born).ResultsCOVID-19 stress was associated with more depressive (beta = .18, p = .027) and anxiety (beta = .21, p = .010) symptoms. However, COVID-19 stress was related to higher levels of depressive anxiety symptoms only for youth who engaged in low (beta = .38, p < .001; beta = .38, p = .001) and medium (beta = .19, p = .004; beta = .22, p = .011) levels of problem-focused engagement coping. Higher levels of family resilience were associated with lower cross-sectional depressive symptoms (beta = -.28, p = .004). For longitudinal models, a significant relation between COVID-19 stress and problem-focused engagement predicted Time 2 depressive symptoms (beta = -.20, p < .041).ConclusionLatinx youth who experienced high levels of COVID-19 stress who enacted problem-focused coping fared better across the pandemic. Familial resilience did not carry the same longitudinal benefit but did bolster mental health concurrently. Clinicians should endeavor to buttress familial resilience processes in addition to problem-engaged coping for Latinx youth in treatment.