Parental Awareness of Adolescents’ Mental Health Issues and Their Challenge in the Latinx Community
Location
PARB 126 (First Floor)
Proposal Track
Research Project
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
Research has shown that about 20% of children and adolescents in the United States experience mental health problems that became a significant social concern during the pandemic. The study focused on Latinx parents and adolescents to understand parental perceptions of the adolescents’ current mood states post quarantine. Results of the survey indicated that the adolescents experienced worry, significant changes in feelings, and loneliness resulting from physical/social isolation and virtual learning. The majority of the Latinx parents who were surveyed did not recognize well their adolescents’ mood changes. Parental unawareness of their adolescents’ mental state that included a lack of understanding about the importance of adolescents’ mental health, cultural reasons, language barriers, low education, unstable jobs, and so on, could result in the loss of opportunities to receive timely help for mental health concerns. This study provided insight into the mental health challenges of Latinx adolescents, sought to understand Latinx parents’ challenges, and advocate for Latinx adolescents’ emotional well-being. Even though there has been much support promoting mental health, the Latinx population need more specific attention and differentiate support from schools, the local community, and the government.
Keywords
Mental Health; Latinx Adolescents and Parents; Emotional well-being
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Jihye and Scott, Robyn, "Parental Awareness of Adolescents’ Mental Health Issues and Their Challenge in the Latinx Community" (2022). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 46.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2022/2022/46
Parental Awareness of Adolescents’ Mental Health Issues and Their Challenge in the Latinx Community
PARB 126 (First Floor)
Research has shown that about 20% of children and adolescents in the United States experience mental health problems that became a significant social concern during the pandemic. The study focused on Latinx parents and adolescents to understand parental perceptions of the adolescents’ current mood states post quarantine. Results of the survey indicated that the adolescents experienced worry, significant changes in feelings, and loneliness resulting from physical/social isolation and virtual learning. The majority of the Latinx parents who were surveyed did not recognize well their adolescents’ mood changes. Parental unawareness of their adolescents’ mental state that included a lack of understanding about the importance of adolescents’ mental health, cultural reasons, language barriers, low education, unstable jobs, and so on, could result in the loss of opportunities to receive timely help for mental health concerns. This study provided insight into the mental health challenges of Latinx adolescents, sought to understand Latinx parents’ challenges, and advocate for Latinx adolescents’ emotional well-being. Even though there has been much support promoting mental health, the Latinx population need more specific attention and differentiate support from schools, the local community, and the government.
