Abstract: A Critical Examination of Risk and Protective Factors for Suicidality Among First-Generation Latinx Immigrant Youth from the Northern Triangle: A Latent Profile Analysis (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)

Schedule:

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Liberty Ballroom O, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)

* noted as presenting author

John Salerno, PhD, Provost's Postdoctoral Scientist, Columbia University, New York City, NY

Christina Getrich, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD

Jessica Fish, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Maryland at College Park, MD

Yecenia Castillo, MPA, Program Manager, La Clinica Del Pueblo, Hyattsville, MD

Susana Edmiston, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, La Clinica Del Pueblo, Hyattsville, MD

Pedro Sandoval, Youth Development Worker, La Clinica Del Pueblo, Hyattsville, MD

Elizabeth Aparicio, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD

Craig Fryer, DrPH, Associate Professor and Interim Chair, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD

Bradley Boekeloo, PhD, Professor, University of Maryland at College Park, MD

Background and Purpose: Central American immigrant youth specifically from the Northern Triangle (NT; El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras) are a unique, vulnerable, and increasing and emerging population within first-generation Latinx immigrants in the U.S. Indeed, 77% of immigrant youth apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021, and 90% in 2019, hailed from the NT, highlighting the NT youth immigration-related crisis currently being faced in the U.S. First-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the NT face unique risks for stressors across the phases of migration (i.e., forced family separation, victimization, immigrant-related stress and discrimination), which may encourage suicidality. Yet, psychosocial buffering resources (i.e., social support, sense of ethnic identity) during post-migration have strong potential to prevent suicidality through mitigating the negative effects of past stressors. Given the rise in suicidality and that it is the third leading cause of death among U.S. Latinx youth, understanding the intervenable psychosocial factors associated with suicidality, specifically among NT immigrant youth, whom are an emerging and intersectionally vulnerable U.S. population, is an urgent gap in the scientific literature.

Methods: Primary surveys assessing stressors across the phases of migration (i.e., pre- to post-migration victimization and family separation), immigrant-related minority stress (i.e., immigrant-related discrimination and negative stress-related feelings), psychosocial buffering factors (i.e., family, peer, and school support, and ethnic identity importance), and suicidal ideation were administered to first-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the NT (N=172). Latent profile analysis was then conducted to identify latent profiles that varied at the intersections of post-migration immigrant minority stress and psychosocial buffering factors. Chi-square and logistic regression were conducted to examine the associations of stressors and latent profile membership with suicidality.

Results: On average, youth were 17.6 years old and had been living in the U.S. for 2.7 years. Youth were primarily heterosexual (92%), female (63%), and born in El Salvador (76%). A three latent-profile model emerged, characterized by post-migration 1) moderate immigrant minority stress/low psychosocial buffering (weak resources), 2) moderate immigrant minority stress/moderate psychosocial buffering (average resources), and 3) low immigrant minority stress/high psychosocial buffering (strong resources). Logistic regression revealed that youth in the strong resources group were significantly less likely to experience suicidality compared to youth in the average and weak resources groups. The weak resources group did not differ from the average resources group on suicidality. The effect of post-migration victimization on suicidality was significant in bivariate analysis, but attenuated in multivariable analysis. Pre-migration victimization and family separation were not significantly associated with suicidality, and in-transit migration victimization prevalence was too low for valid statistical assessment.

Conclusions and Implications: This study is among the first to reveal that NT immigrant youth may require strong social supports (i.e., family, peer, and school support), and highly affirming environments (i.e., low immigrant minority stress) that celebrate, welcome, and embrace their cultural and ethnic identities to experience optimal mental health that mitigates the negative effects of past traumas, such as post-migration victimization, and ultimately prevents suicidality. Further research is warranted to address trauma and promote resilience and healing in this emerging and vulnerable population.