Term of Award

Fall 2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Psychology

Committee Chair

Ryan Couillou

Committee Member 1

Jeffrey Klibert

Committee Member 2

Bekah Estevez

Committee Member 3

Michelle Joaquin

Abstract

Family cultural values are central in promoting resilience in Latinx communities. The concept of familismo is a fundamental cultural value emphasizing the importance of family (Vela et al., 2017). It is based on loyalty, interdependence over independence, and cooperation over competition (Bermudez & Mancini, 2012). This belief is the foundation of Latinx family structures, building strong family units whereby members expect their lives to revolve around their extended family (Sanchez et al., 2019). However, much of the literature is characterized mainly by the needs, deficits, and struggles Latinx communities face, often providing an inaccurate and skewed portrayal. This narrow focus limits the possibilities of Latinx communities to obtain resources that will enable them to thrive and flourish. Therefore, this study aims to bridge this literature gap by examining the psychological benefits of familismo and its role in promoting resilience. Specifically, this study examined the interaction between neighborhood quality (i.e., neighborhood hardship, safety, danger, crime) and resilience, with familismo (i.e., family support, family cohesion) as a moderating factor, to account for variance in how Latinx communities adapt to adversity. A total of 192 Latinx participants completed an online survey related to their experiences with neighborhood quality, familismo, and resilience. Latinx individuals in rural areas reported higher levels of resilience when compared to Latinx individuals in non-rural areas. Additionally, results showed that neighborhood quality was not significantly associated with resilience. However, familismo was significantly and positively associated with resilience. Moderation analyses did not indicate that familismo moderates the relationship between neighborhood quality and resilience. Research on resilience in Latinx communities is critical for developing culturally sensitive treatment and culture-centered assessment. These efforts strive to respond to the complex inequities in accessing mental health care experienced by minoritized populations.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

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