University of Central Florida College of Medicine.
National Network of Public Health Institutes.
Fam Syst Health. 2022 Sep;40(3):354-363. doi: 10.1037/fsh0000721.
Language barriers, isolation, and challenges related to social integration, acculturative stress, and systemic discrimination are correlated with poor physical and mental health outcomes among immigrant populations. Emerging literature highlights the importance of social networks for resiliency and well-being. This study explores the experiences of Venezuelan immigrants in central Florida, factors that have promoted resilience, and considerations for mental health providers to meet the needs of this population.
A phenomenological approach was used to engage Venezuelan immigrants who had been in the United States for at least 6 months (n = 48) in dialogue about forced migration, identity, and adaptation. Five focus groups using a semistructured format were conducted to explore aspects of the experience before, during, and after migration. Recruitment was done through word of mouth and community gatekeepers.
Participants were 54% female with an average age of 45, 85% had at least 1 college degree, and more than half left Venezuela since 2011. Themes were identified from the focus group transcripts and clustered into three broad areas: characteristics and individual experiences, mental health, and family and social context. Major findings included the need for culturally responsive mental health support, which appeared to mitigate distress and the centrality of social networks in support of resiliency.
Findings from the present study suggest that community context, support for ethnic identity, and the ability to foster meaningful connections to others with similar experience and identity are critical factors in resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
语言障碍、隔离以及与社会融合、文化适应压力和系统性歧视相关的挑战与移民群体的身心健康不良结果相关。新出现的文献强调了社交网络对于韧性和幸福感的重要性。本研究探讨了中佛罗里达州委内瑞拉移民的经历、促进韧性的因素，以及为满足这一人群的需求，心理健康服务提供者需要考虑的因素。
采用现象学方法，让在美国至少居住了 6 个月的委内瑞拉移民（n=48）参与关于被迫迁移、身份认同和适应的对话。采用半结构化格式进行了 5 次焦点小组讨论，以探讨迁移前后的经历的各个方面。通过口碑和社区把关人进行招募。
参与者中 54%为女性，平均年龄为 45 岁，85%至少拥有 1 个大学学位，超过一半的人自 2011 年以来离开委内瑞拉。从焦点小组的转录本中确定了主题，并分为三个广泛的领域：特征和个人经历、心理健康以及家庭和社会背景。主要发现包括对文化响应的心理健康支持的需求，这似乎减轻了痛苦，以及社交网络在支持韧性方面的核心地位。
本研究的结果表明，社区背景、对族裔认同的支持以及培养与具有相似经历和身份的人建立有意义联系的能力，是韧性的关键因素。
