Date of Award
5-2024
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: M.S.
Department
Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
College
School of Health and Human Services
First Advisor
Dr. Kristen Langellier
Second Advisor
Dr. Rose Stark-Rose
Third Advisor
Dr. Erin Berzins
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Latino/a positive mental health, flourishing, well-being, familism, family ties
Abstract
Familism is a fundamental cultural value that plays a prominent role in Latinos’ lives. The research literature has demonstrated that familism has a powerful and protective influence on various areas, ranging from mental health to educational outcomes. The family context is a promising area of inquiry for acquiring knowledge on cultural factors that contribute to the positive mental health of Latinos. Although Latino/a mental health is gaining increased attention, more research is needed that transcends studying mental illness in the Latino community. This study measured the relationship between the degree of familism endorsed by Latino/a participants and their flourishing mental health. A total of 139 Latino/a adults, mostly consisting of college students, across seven states in the United States completed Sabogal et al.’s Familism Scale and Diener et al.’s Flourishing Scale. An analysis of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient revealed a weak, positive relationship between Latino/a participants’ total Familism Scale scores and Flourishing Scale scores. The statistically significant relationship between familism and flourishing mental health underscores the influence of Latinos’ family environment on their mental health. This study employs a strengths-based framework to expand the scant research on a historically underrepresented and growing segment of the population. The current study accentuates the need to understand and draw on cultural resources to provide culturally competent, effective, and strengths-based mental health services for the Latino community, particularly amid the current student mental health crisis. This study’s findings could inform culturally appropriate interventions to enhance Latino flourishing and well-being.
Recommended Citation
Ocampo Sorto, Jensi V., "Latino Flourishing: The Relationship Between Familism and Flourishing Mental Health Among Latinos" (2024). Culminating Projects in Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy. 110.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/cpcf_etds/110
