Document Type
Article
Keywords
mental health, Latina, adolescence, young adulthood, family, socialization
Disciplines
Clinical and Medical Social Work | Family, Life Course, and Society | Latina/o Studies | Other Mental and Social Health | Social Work
Abstract
Latina young people report high levels of mental health problems and low levels of helpseeking
compared with their white peers, but little research has examined factors influencing
their mental health views. Inductive analysis of 25 participants’ narratives revealed that Latina
young people described three stages in the development of their mental health-related beliefs,
attitudes, and behaviors: undergoing a process of family mental health socialization, suffering
in silence, and attaining a new perspective. Within each of these phases, participants shared
stories that attest to their agency and resilience. This research uncovers a novel theoretical
construct, “family mental health socialization,” which elucidates how young people internalize
mental health-related beliefs, behaviors, and norms within their cultural and family context.
Implications for social work practice include the need for culturally sensitive, family-centered
interventions that promote open communication about mental health.
Publication Title
Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services
Volume
106
Issue
1
Article Number
1047
Publication Date
2025
First Page
135
Last Page
157
Extent
22
DOI of Published Version
10.1177/10443894231218298
Language
English
Peer Reviewed
1
Recommended Citation
Lilly, Jenn M., "“I Learned to Bottle Up My Feelings From a Young Age”: A Narrative Analysis of Latina Young People’s Family Mental Health Socialization" (2025). Social Service Faculty Publications. 39.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/gss_facultypubs/39
Version
Published
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Funder
Fahs-Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation Faculty Research Grant, the Fordham University Faculty Research Grant, and the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service Faculty Research Development Fund
Grant
Fahs-Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation Faculty Research Grant, the Fordham University Faculty Research Grant, and the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service Faculty Research Development Fund
Included in
Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Latina/o Studies Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Social Work Commons
