A needs assessment of Latinx immigrant mothers with a child currently receiving mental health services experiencing the COVID-19 health crisis

ABSTRACT

Currently, there is minimal research regarding the impact of the current Covid-19 health crisis on Latinx immigrant families. This study explores overall parenting stress and parenting stress directly related to the current Covid-19 health crisis in Latinx immigrant mothers with children currently receiving mental health services. Additionally, it examines how Immigrant Latinx families are being impacted and their needs during the Covid-19 health crisis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on twenty Latinx immigrant mothers currently experiencing parenting stress and have children currently receiving mental health services. Participant responses were considered using the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis method. An analysis showed themes such as overall negative impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, negative impact on mental/emotional health, and overall need during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The findings showed that Latinx immigrant families currently receiving mental health services experienced an overall negative impact on their lives. The principal findings also demonstrated that Latinx immigrant families' mental/ emotional health was negatively impacted and had significantly experienced higher levels of parenting stress. Findings further revealed a need for basic needs, more mental health support/ professional help, and school support to help address areas of impact in the lives of Latinx immigrant families. Clinical implications include providing culturally sensitive care to Latinx immigrant families and a better sense of how the Covid-19 health crisis affected Latinx families, including their overall experiences and needs related to the pandemic that mental health clinicians are serving. Further research is needed to study the experiences of all immigrant Latinx family members, Latinx immigrant families who only have one parent, Latinx immigrant mothers from various Latin American countries, and Latinx immigrant families with diverse acculturation levels and coping practices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)