Physically Separated, Psychically Connected: Central American Parents' Strength, Identity, and Connection across Migration

Background: Immigration-related family separation is considered a significant stressor among immigrants and has been documented to increase children and parents' risk of developing depression, anxiety, and separation-related post-traumatic stress disorder, ambiguous loss, disconnection, and loneliness. While existing research has largely centered children and family dynamics, there remains a critical gap in understanding the individual psychological impact on parents. Specifically, more attention must be given to how separation and reunification shape parents’ mental health, emotional well-being, and evolving sense of self. When parents bear unmet needs, unresolved emotional distress, or traumatic experiences, their ability to support themselves and their children diminishes. Interventions and policy must be attuned to these lived realities.

Methods: This study employed an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach to explore how family separation and reunification shaped the well-being and sense of self among Central American parents. Ten participants were recruited from U.S. regions with significant recent growth in Central American migration. Eligibility criteria included: (1) being a parent of Central American origin, and (2) having experienced a separation followed by reunification with a child between the ages of 6 and 18. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted in person or via video. An art-based prompt was incorporated into one interview question to facilitate reflection and deeper emotional expression.

Results: Preliminary findings suggest that migration-related separation and reunification significantly impact Central American parents’ bio-psycho-social-spiritual well-being and sense of self. Findings highlight that during their children's migration journeys (en ruta), parents face heightened distress—and that maintaining a meaningful virtual presence to continue “parenting at a distance” positively impacts well-being and parental identity. A key finding reveals that parents may experience being physically separated but psychically connected to their children, sustaining a strong sense of relational closeness. The separation and reunification phase presents a mix of challenges and opportunities that significantly affect parents’ mental health and the capacity to nurture, provide, and reconnect with their children. Key to navigating these moments are parents’ internal strengths, resourcefulness in sustaining family connections across borders, connecting with others with similar experiences and spirituality as a source of emotional grounding and hope.

Conclusion and Implications: Addressing the psychological impact of immigration-related family separation on parents requires culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches that recognize parents as individuals with distinct emotional needs. Support groups can play a vital role in helping parents process their experiences, reduce isolation, and promote collective healing. Research expansion should continue to examine the long-term implications of separation on parents— in terms of their individual mental health and evolving sense of self, but also in how these experiences shape their relationships and roles within the family. Policy must prioritize accessible, parent-centered mental health services, including support to parents while separated from their children and post-reunification care that supports emotional recovery and reinforces parental well-being.