Outcomes of COVID-19 on Latinx Youth: Considering the Role of Adverse Childhood Events and Resilience

• Published in: School psychology 2021-09, Vol.36 (5), p.335-347
• Main Authors: D'Costa, Stephanie, Rodriguez, Andrea, Grant, Stephanie, Hernandez, Mayra, Alvarez Bautista, Joaquin, Houchin, Quinn, Brown, Ashley, Calcagno, Anthony
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Age Differences; At Risk Students; Children & youth; COVID-19; Cultural Influences; Educational psychology; Ethnicity; Female; Foreign Language Translation; Gender Differences; High School Students; Hispanic American Students; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic students; Human; Latinos/Latinas; Male; Mental Health; Pandemics; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Predictor Variables; Racial Differences; Resilience (Psychological); Resilience (Psychology); Rural Schools; Stress; Stress Variables; Trauma
• ISSN: 2578-4218; 2578-4226
• DOI: 10.1037/spq0000459

Early research on the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated differential impact on the Latinx community. There has been limited research exploring the mental health outcomes of the pandemic on Latinx youth. This study explores the severity of pandemic-related stress on Latinx youth considering their resilience factors and previous adverse childhood events (ACEs). Adolescents (n = 142) ages 13-18 completed measures related to exposure to the pandemic, pandemic stress, number of ACEs, resilience factors, and general demographic information. Results of multiple regression analysis found that exposure to the pandemic, ACEs, gender, and resilience factors predicted the levels of stress that youth experienced. No differences in pandemic-related stress were found between Latinx youth and their non-Latinx counterparts. Implications are discussed related to how school psychologists can support all students with culturally sensitive practices as we continue through the pandemic and beyond. Impact and Implications This study suggests that adverse childhood events (ACEs) and resilience factors predict the level of pandemic-related stress experienced by predominantly Latinx high school students. School psychologists play an important role in helping adolescents, families, and teachers understand how ACEs can increase the symptoms of pandemic-related stress and how resilience can mitigate that impact.