Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This study examines marital well-being in sociocultural context in an understudied and rapidly growing segment of the population of North Carolina: low income, Mexican-origin couples raising children. Understanding how sociocultural stressors are linked to spouses' marital well-being (Aim 1), examining implications of within-couple mismatches in spouses' sociocultural experiences and values for marital well-being (Aim 2), and identifying the types of relational resources and strategies that moderate those links (Aim 3), are a first step in improving family members' health in this rapidly growing segment of our population. Steps to address Aims 1-3 were accomplished during the reporting period and include the completion of each goals put forth in the original proposal for the October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009 time period. As outlined in the original proposal, the following tasks were completed for the full sample of 125 couples (250 parents): 1) Complete data checking, cleaning and program management; 2) Translate, transcribe and code all qualitative data (used in Objective 2); 3) Conduct data analysis to address research questions posed in Objective 1; 4) Complete measurement analyses for social support measures to be used for Objective 3; 5) Begin data analysis to address research questions posed in Objectives 2 and 3; 6) Dissemination of results in the form of co-authored presentations with graduate and undergraduate student authors; 7) Manuscript preparation and submission with student/former student co-authors. I mentored two graduate students, two undergraduate student research assistants, and collaborated with a former graduate student on a manuscript submission for a peer review journal in meeting the goals for the reporting period. In addition, initial results were presented at UNCG via poster presentation as part of OUR Expo in March 2009. This poster, referenced below, was co-authored with students and was open to the university and local community. Rodriguez**, Y., Walls*, J. K., Helms, H. M., & Bonilla, M.** Husbands traditionality and wives'marital and personal well-being in Mexican-American families. Poster presented at the 2009 Office of Undergraduate Research Expo, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, March 2008. **Undergraduate student * Graduate student PARTICIPANTS: Two graduate students and two undergraduate students worked regularly on the project during the reporting period. The lead graduate student was trained in data management and analysis and served as the project coordinator. Undergraduate students assisted with data collection, data checking, and translating/coding the qualitative data. One volunteer was also trained in data coding and checking and assisted for 5 hours per week on the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include academics, the university community, and Latino immigrant couples. The OUR Expo Poster presentation reached UNCG students, faculty, and staff who work directly with Latinos. I am currently being interviewed for a feature story on the preliminary findings of this research project for the UNCG alumni magazine that will reach the broader community. The manuscript currently under review has been peer reviewed by leading national scholars and once published will impact a much larger national audience. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Because I was successful in obtaining additional funding to expand the sample, an extension of the original project was granted and final data analysis and dissemination was completed with the full sample of 125 couples in January 2009). Because of this exciting development (i.e., successfully recruiting and interviewing additional participants) results disseminated this year should be considered preliminary.
Impacts
To date, most studies of Latino immigrants have focused on individual responses to stressors associated with migration and adaptation with results indicating links between acculturative stress and individual health and well-being. Essentially no attention has been given to the links between more broadly defined sociocultural stressors and marital well-being or to potential relational resources that may buffer stress for parents of Mexican origin. Identifying the conditions under which new parents of Mexican origin are likely to experience marital difficulties and the relational resources that strengthen or buffer their marriages will inform prevention and intervention efforts. Detailed data such as those collected here are necessary to promote the development of culturally appropriate interventions tailored to the individual needs and strengths of husbands and wives of Mexican origin in the early childrearing years.
Publications
- Helms, H. M., Supple, A. J. & Proulx, C.M. (pending, 2010). Mexican Origin Couples in the Early Years of Parenthood: Marital Well-being in Ecological Context. Journal of Family Theory and Review.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This study examines marital well-being in sociocultural context in an understudied and rapidly growing segment of the population of North Carolina: low income, Mexican-origin couples raising children. Understanding how sociocultural stressors are linked to spouses' marital well-being (Aim 1), examining implications of within-couple mismatches in spouses' sociocultural experiences and values for marital well-being (Aim 2), and identifying the types of relational resources and strategies that moderate those links (Aim 3), are a first step in improving family members' health in this rapidly growing segment of our population. Steps to address Aims 1-3 were accomplished during the reporting period and include the completion of each goal put forth in the original proposal for the October 1, 2007 - September 30, 2008 time period. As outlined in the original proposal, the following tasks were completed during the reporting period: 1) Complete data checking, cleaning and program management; 2) Translate, transcribe and code all qualitative data (used in Objective 2); 3) Conduct data analysis to address research questions posed in Objective 1; 4) Complete measurement analyses for social support measures to be used for Objective 3. I mentored one graduate student and two undergraduate student research assistants in meeting these goals. The work completed by these undergraduate students was featured in the spring issue of the UNCG Research Magazine. In addition, preliminary results were presented at UNCG via poster presentation as part of OUR Expo in March 2008. This poster, referenced below, was co-authored with students and was open to the university and local community. Bonilla, M.**, Rodriguez**, Y., Walls*, J. K., & Helms, H. M. Husbands traditionality and wives'marital and personal well-being in Mexican-American families. Poster presented at the 2008 Office of Undergraduate Research Expo, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, March 2008. **Undergraduate student * Graduate student PARTICIPANTS: One graduate student and two undergraduate students worked regularly on the project during the reporting period. The graduate student was trained in data management and analysis and served as the project coordinator. Undergraduate students assisted with data collection, data checking, and translating/coding the qualitative data. One volunteer was also trained in data coding and checking and assisted for 5 hours per week on the project. Andrew Behnke, Phd, an extension faculty at NCSU generously provided informational DVDs which we distributed to all study participants. Information covered in these DVDs was in Spanish and included issues important to Mexican immigrant families: housing rights, healthcare, navigating the school system, and immigration. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include academics, the university community, and Latino immigrant couples. The OUR Expo Poster presentation and UNCG Research Magazine article reached UNCG students, faculty, staff and local community members. The NCSU Extension DVDs were distributed to Latino couples participating in the study. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Because the PI was successful in obtaining additional funding to expand her sample, final data analysis and dissemination will not be completed until the full sample of 125 couples is interviewed (completion of data collection is projected for January 2009). Because of this exciting development (i.e., successfully recruiting and interviewing additional participants) current results must be considered preliminary.
Impacts
To date, most studies of Latino immigrants have focused on individual responses to stressors associated with migration and adaptation with results indicating links between acculturative stress and individual health and well-being. With the exception of the current study, essentially no attention has been given to the links between more broadly defined sociocultural stressors and marital well-being or to potential relational resources that may buffer stress for parents of Mexican origin. Identifying the conditions under which new parents of Mexican origin are likely to experience marital difficulties and the relational resources that strengthen or buffer their marriages will inform prevention and intervention efforts. Detailed data such as those collected and analyzed in this study are necessary to promote the development of culturally appropriate interventions tailored to the individual needs and strengths of husbands and wives of Mexican origin in the early years of parenthood.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
This study examines marital well-being in sociocultural context in an understudied and rapidly growing segment of the population of North Carolina: low income, Mexican-origin couples raising children. Understanding how sociocultural stressors are linked to spouses' marital well-being (Aim 1), examining implications of within-couple mismatches in spouses' sociocultural experiences and values for marital well-being (Aim 2), and identifying the types of relational resources and strategies that moderate those links (Aim 3), are a first step in improving family members' health in this rapidly growing segment of our population. Initial steps to address Aims 1-3 were accomplished during the reporting period and include the completion of each goal put forth in the original proposal for the October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007 time period. As outlined in the original proposal, the following tasks were completed from October 2006 - February 2007: 1) Developed interview protocol
and packet; 2) Hired and trained bilingual interview team; 3) Translated and back-translated measures into Spanish. From March 2007 - September 30, 2007 the following tasks were completed: 1) Recruited couples to participate in the study, 2) Completed 25 in-home interviews in Spanish with 50 spouses; 3) Began data checking, scanning, and cleaning.
Impacts
To date, most studies of Latino immigrants have focused on individual responses to stressors associated with migration and adaptation with results indicating links between acculturative stress and individual health and well-being. Essentially no attention has been given to the links between more broadly defined sociocultural stressors and marital well-being or to potential relational resources that may buffer stress for parents of Mexican origin. Identifying the conditions under which new parents of Mexican origin are likely to experience marital difficulties and the relational resources that strengthen or buffer their marriages will inform prevention and intervention efforts. Detailed data such as those collected here are necessary to promote the development of culturally appropriate interventions tailored to the individual needs and strengths of husbands and wives of Mexican origin in the early years of parenthood.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
The purpose of this research project was to explore the nature of mothers and fathers relationships with their close kin and non-kin friends and the role these friendships play in family life (i.e., marital, parent-child relations, personal well-being). Participants included 96 mothers and fathers involved in Phase III of a longitudinal study of child care experiences, family environment and children's developmental outcomes (Western North Carolina site of the NICHD Early Child Care and Youth Development Study, C. C. Payne, PI). During a site visit, mothers and fathers completed a series of measures about their marriage/romantic partnership and close friendship, in addition to questions pertaining to personal well-being and parent-child relationships. Data management was completed during the fall of 2001. Data analyses and dissemination addressing the research goals of the project began during the winter of 2002. To date, Christine Proulx has used the data to address
several goals of the project for her Masters thesis entitled, Wives' Marriage Work with Friends and Spouses and Their Links to Marital Quality, completed in May 2002. Christine and I have since co-presented a poster on the same topic at the 64th annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations in November, 2002. In addition, we co-authored a manuscript published in Family Relations in July 2004; this paper was featured as a Continuing Education Credits Reading for family practitioners maintaining licensure across the country.
Impacts
Social networks, or an individuals array of close associates including friends and kin, serve as a social context in which marital and parent-child relationships develop. We argue that spouses close friendships are linked to marital quality and stability in important ways, and our work supports this notion.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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