School of Social Work Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
This study explored the trajectories of well-being among immigrant youth in the United States using an ecodevelopmental and posttraumatic growth perspective. Immigrant youth were from the Northern Triangle of Central America and had recently been released from immigration family detention in the United States. Through time-ordered matrix thematic analysis of interviews with 15 mothers at baseline and follow-up (N = 30 interviews), the research revealed a complex landscape of challenges and adaptations during resettlement. While initial adverse emotional outcomes were common, these tended to improve over time as families gained stability in the United States. Family structure emerged as crucial, with unified families faring better than those fractured by immigration-related separation. Schools generally provided a protective environment, with mental health service access identified as a key protective factor. Proactive parents sought resources for their children, and social isolation at school was often mitigated by strengthened family relationships. Older children frequently assumed increased responsibilities, contributing to closer family bonds. Spiritual communities played a significant role in helping children cope with resettlement challenges and past migration traumas. The study highlights the intricate interplay of risk and protective factors shaping immigrant youth well-being. Central American immigrant youth demonstrated remarkable resilience, challenging deficit-based perspectives. The research calls for strength-based support systems that validate culturally specific identities, experiences, and skills; create flexible supportive networks; and recognize youths’ capacity to transform migration challenges into opportunities for personal growth and resilience. These findings can inform culturally responsive practices, interventions, and policies to better support immigrant youth and families during resettlement.
Recommended Citation
Londoño, T., Gulbas, L. E., & Zayas, L. H. (2026). Parents’ perspectives on trajectories of well-being for immigrant youth from Central America. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000926
Publication Title
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
DOI
10.1037/ort0000926
Comments
© 2026, Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice. This manuscript is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the final, authoritative version of the article. Please do not copy or cite without authors’ permission. The final version of record is available via its DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ort0000926