Abstract
COVID 19 affected students worldwide, causing disruptions to higher education as we know it. First generation and under-represented students were particularly impacted. U.S. Latinx, first-generation students experienced educational disparities pre-pandemic, due to language barriers, racism/discrimination, lack of sense of belonging, and institutional climate. During the pandemic, they faced added challenges of working from home in environments where it was hard to obtain privacy or time for classwork, Internet access and sufficient bandwidth, and motivation to attend classes. The U.S.A. is also in a time of national, racial injustice which directly affects many Latinx students. Extant literature shows that meaning-making, resilience and cultural values can help in overcoming adversities. This chapter summarizes the barriers and needs of first generation Latinx students, as well as findings on role of meaning making and cultural values in fostering resilience. A call for future research is outlined
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The term Latinx is broadly used in the USA to refer to people of Latin American descent, which encompasses many different countries and nationalities.
References
Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., Aaker, J. L., & Garbinsky, E. N. (2013). Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8, 505–515. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.830764
Cardoso, J. B., & Thompson, S. J. (2010). Common themes of resilience among Latino immigrant families: A systematic review of the literature. Families in Society, 91(3), 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.4003
Carranza, M. E. (2007). Building resilience and resistance against racism and discrimination among Salvadorian female youth in Canada. Child & Family Social Work, 12(4), 390–398. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2007.00492.x
Chen, S., & Bonanno, G. A. (2020). Psychological adjustment during the global outbreak of COVID-19: A resilience perspective. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy, 12, S51–S54. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000685
Chirkov, I., Soria, K. M., Horgos, B., & Jones-White, D. (2020). Undergraduate and graduate students’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Center for Studies in Higher Education. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/80k5d5hw
Cohen, A. K., Hoyt, L. T., & Dull, B. (2020). A descriptive study of COVID-19-related experiences and perspectives of a national sample of college students in spring 2020. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(3), 369–375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.009
Costin, V., & Vignoles, V. L. (2019). Meaning is about mattering: Evaluating coherence, purpose, and existential mattering as precursors of meaning in life judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Personality Processes and Individual Differences, 118, 864–884. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000225
Daloz Parks, S. (2019). Big questions, worthy dreams: Mentoring emerging adults in their search for meaning, purpose, and faith. Fortress Press.
Finch, B. K., & Vega, W. A. (2003). Acculturation stress, social support, and self-rated health among Latinos in California. Journal of Immigrant Health, 5(3), 109–117. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1023987717921
Fitzpatrick, K. M., Harris, C., & Drawve, G. (2020, June 4). Fear of COVID-19 and the mental health consequences in America. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000924
Fortuna, L. R., Tolou-Shams, M., Robles-Ramamurthy, B., & Porche, M. V. (2020). Inequity and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color in the United States: The need for a trauma-informed social justice response. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(5), 443–445. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000889
Garcini, L. M., Domenech Rodríguez, M. M., Mercado, A., & Paris, M. (2020). A tale of two crises: The compounded effect of COVID-19 and anti-immigration policy in the U.S. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy, 12, S230–S232. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000775
Garmezy, N. (1993). Children in poverty: Resilience despite risk. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 56(1), 127–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1993.11024627
Haas, A. P., Rodgers, P. L., & Herman, J. L. (2014). Suicide attempts among transgender and gender non-conforming adults: Findings of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Williams Institute. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/AFSP-Williams-Suicide_Report_Final.pdf
Hill, C. E., Bowers, G., Costello, A., England, J., Houston-Ludlam, A., Knowlton, G., May, M., Moraff, E., Pinto-Coelho, K., Rosenberg, L., Sauber, E., Crook-Lyon, R. E., & Thompson, B. J. (2013). What’s it all about? A qualitative study of undergraduate beliefs about meaning in life. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 53, 386–414. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167813477733
Hope, E. C., Keels, M., & Durkee, M. I. (2016). Participation in black lives matter and deferred action for childhood arrivals: Modern activism among Black and Latino college students. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 9(3), 203–215. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/dhe0000032
Hovey, J. D., & Magaña, C. G. (2002). Exploring the mental health of Mexican migrant farm workers in the Midwest: Psychosocial predictors of psychological distress and suggestions for prevention and treatment. Journal of Psychology, 136(5), 493–513. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980209605546
Hwang, W. C., & Goto, S. (2008). The impact of perceived racial discrimination on the mental health of Asian American and Latino college students. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14(4), 326–335. https://doi.org/10.1037/1099-9809.14.4.326
Lambert, N. M., Stillman, T. F., Baumeister, R. F., Fincham, F. D., Hicks, J. A., & Graham, S. M. (2010). Family as a salience source of meaning in your adulthood. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2010.516616
Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., & Chao, R. C.-L. (2019). Happiness and meaning in life: Unique, differential, and indirect associations with mental health. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 32, 396–414. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2019.1604493
Liu, S. R., & Modir, S. (2020). The outbreak that was always here: Racial trauma in the context of COVID-19 and implications for mental health providers. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy, 12, 439–442. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000784
Liu, C. H., Pinder-Amaker, S., Hahm, H., & Chen, J. A. (2020). Priorities for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college student mental health. Journal of American College Health, 70(5), 1356–1358. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1803882
Lopez, S. J., Pedrotti, J. T., & Snyder, C. R. (2019). Positive psychology: The science and practical explorations of human strengths. Sage.
Margolius, M., Doyle Lynch, A., Pufall Jones, E., & Hynes, M. (2020). The state of young people during COVID-19: Findings from a nationally representative survey of high school youth. Americas Promise Alliance. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED606305.pdf
McKenzie, L. (2020, June 2). Calls for change. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/06/08/searching-meaningful-response-college-leaders-killing-george-floyd
Moradi, B., & Risco, C. (2006). Perceived discrimination experiences and mental health of Latina/o American persons. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(4), 411–421. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-0167.53.4.411
Morgan Consoli, M. L., & Delucio, K. (2017). Respeto. In A. Wentzel (Ed.), Sage encyclopedia of abnormal and clinical psychology (p. 2881). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483365817
Morgan Consoli, M. L., & Llamas, J. (2013). The relationship between Mexican American cultural values, resilience, and thriving. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60, 617–624. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033998
Morgan Consoli, M. L., Cabrera, A. P., Llamas, J., Noriega, E., & Gonzalez, N. (2014). An exploratory study of thriving in Latino/a undergraduate students in the U.S. Interamerican Journal of Psychology/Revista InterAmericana de Psicologia, 48, 106–118.
Morgan, M.L., & Zetzer, H.A. (2022). Latinx undergraduates’ navigation in the context of COVID-19 and racial injustice. The Counseling Psychologist, 50(3), 415–444. https://doi.org/10.1177/00110000211072199
Muñoz, S. M., & Vigil, D. (2018). Interrogating racist nativist microaggressions and campus climate: How undocumented and DACA college students experience institutional legal violence in Colorado. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 11(4), 451–466. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000078
National Center for Educational Statistics (2019). Retrieved online from : https://nces.ed.gov
Nora, A., & Cabrera, A. F. (1996). The role of perceptions of prejudice and discrimination on the adjustment of minority students to college. The Journal of Higher Education, 67(2), 119–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.1996.11780253
Parra-Cardona, J. R., Bulock, L. A., Imig, D. R., Villarruel, F. A., & Gold, S. J. (2006). “Trabajando duro todos los días”: Learning from the life experiences of Mexican-origin migrant families. Family Relations, 55(3), 361–375. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00409.x
Pew Research Center. (2020, June 12). https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/06/12/amid-protests-majorities-across-racial-and-ethnic-groups-express-support-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement/
Puckett, J. A., Levitt, H. M., Horne, S. G., & Hayes-Skelton, S. A. (2015). Internalized heterosexism and psychological distress: The mediating role of self-criticism and community connectedness. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2, 426–435. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000123
Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (1998). The role of purpose in life and personal growth in positive human health. In P. T. P. Wong & P. S. Fry (Eds.), The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications (pp. 213–235). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Singh, M., & Koran, M. (2020, April 18). ‘The virus doesn’t discriminate, but governments do’: Latinos disproportionately hit by coronavirus. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/18/the-virus-doesnt-discriminate-but-governments-do-latinos-disproportionately-hit-by-coronavirus
Steger, M. F., Oishi, S., & Kashden, T. B. (2009). Meaning in life across the lifespan: Levels and correlates of meaning life from emerging adulthood to older adulthood. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760802303127
Stein, G. L., Cavanaugh, A. M., Schilo, L. C., Mejia, Y., & Plunkett, S. W. (2018). Making my family proud: The unique contribution of familism pride to the psychological adjustment of Latinx emerging adults. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 25, 188–198. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000223
Steinberg, L. (2020, June 15). Expecting students to play it safe if colleges reopen is a fantasy. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/opinion/coronavirus-college-safe.html
U.S. Census Bureau. (2021, July 1). Quick facts: United States. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045221
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Morgan, M.L., Zetzer, H.A. (2023). COVID-19, Racial Injustice, and Latinx Student Wellbeing in the USA: Fostering Resilience During Chronic Stress. In: Portillo, N., Morgan, M.L., Gallegos, M. (eds) Psychology and Covid-19 in the Americas. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38627-5_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38627-5_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-38626-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-38627-5
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)