The Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Family-Based Education to Strengthen Latinx Adolescent Mental Health in the United States: The Familias Activas Experience

Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque, Hilda Patricia García Cosavalente (), Alexander E. Chan, Matthew R. Rodriguez and Eva Sumano
Additional contact information
Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque: Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Hilda Patricia García Cosavalente: Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Alexander E. Chan: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Extension, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Matthew R. Rodriguez: University of California Cooperative Extension, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Eva Sumano: CASA de Maryland, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Adolescent years are a time of joy and can represent a challenge for parents and youth, especially for immigrants to the US who are adjusting to their host country. Programs focusing on family skills and positive youth development (PYD) can contribute to youth wellbeing especially, however, few exist for low-income immigrant families. (1) Background: The major goals of this project are to strengthen both PYD and healthy parenting practices by implementing an evidence-informed program, Familias Activas . A theory of change guided the development of Familias Activas in which three factors: parent training, positive youth development, and youth physical activity sessions (soccer) aimed to improve Latinx youth mental health. Youth participated in weekly soccer practices led by trained soccer coaches while parents/caregivers attended parent education. Both sessions lasted eight weeks. (2) Method: We describe the formative stage of the research project as well as the pilot implementation of the Familias Activas program, which provides critical insights for the development of a PYD program. (3) Results: Evaluation surveys were administered to youth and their parents. Thirty youths and sixteen parents completed the survey. The Kidscreen scale had a mean for most items ranging from 3.6 to 4.2. Participating youth were 11 years old and most affirmed they were Latinx. The feasibility program quality mean was 4.2 indicating an overall positive result for the pilot program.. Implications of PYD programs for Latinx youth are discussed. (4) Conclusions: The current paper presents a model for positively influencing the physical and mental wellbeing of Latinx youth and their parents. The model is culturally responsive in its involvement of both parents and youth in programming.

Keywords: Latinx youth; mental health; positive youth development; sports (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/207/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/207/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:207-:d:1012608

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().