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Abstract
Latinx families make up a significant portion of the United States (U.S.) populace at 18% of the population or nearly 60 million people. Latinx families are raising children during a time of unprecedently policy changes, translating to fear, uncertainty, and poor mental health outcomes for this population. The turbulent immigration system has also led to increased anti-immigrant sentiment and social exclusion in addition to the physical barriers imposed by restrictive policies. This dissertation utilized a mixed-methods design to explore the effects of socio-political climate on Latinx parenting and youth outcomes. The first study used data from primarily Mexican-origin caregivers and their children (N = 86) residing near Dallas, Texas. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct effects of parent- and child- report of socio-political climate on youth depression symptoms, in addition to the possible influence of ethnic-racial socialization on this association. The second study used focus group data from primarily Central American-origin, mixed-documentation status (i.e., undocumented, Temporary Protected Status, permanent resident, and citizen) parents (N = 50) residing near Washington, D.C. Thematic analysis was used to categorize how parents believe immigration actions and socio-political climate are affecting their adolescent children. Taken together, findings illustrate that Latinx youth depressive symptoms are associated with reports of negative socio-political climate, and that the reasons for this include feeling unwanted, afraid, uncertain, and impeded. Despite having some security in their family’s documentation status, parents with permanent residency and citizenship also described the psychological distress brought to their children by witnessing the immense hardship of Latinx families being separate. In the face of increasing uncertainty and myriad risk factors based on social-political climate, Latinx youth and families demonstrate remarkable resilience as advocates for social and political change. Implications for policy and intervention are discussed in light of these findings.