Empathic Family Stress as a Sign of Family Connectedness in Haitian Immigrants

• Published in: Family process 2009-03, Vol.48 (1), p.135-150
• Main Authors: NICOLAS, GUERDA, DESILVA, ANGELA, PRATER, KIMBERLY, BRONKOSKI, ELIZABETH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Couple and family; Depression; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Empathic Family Stress; Empathy; Families; Families & family life; Family; Family Relations - ethnology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Haiti; Haiti - ethnology; Haitian; Humans; Immigrant; Immigrants; Immigration; Likert scale; Male; Middle Aged; Noncitizens; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social psychology; Stress; Stress, Psychological - ethnology; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; United States of America; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0014-7370; 1545-5300
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01272.x

Research on familial experiences has documented the important role of receiving family support, but has not examined the effects of providing such support. Empathic family stress refers to the stress that individuals experience in response to difficult life circumstances of family members. The current study took a first step in examining the empathic family stress of 134 Haitian immigrants. Results from hierarchical regressions indicate that empathic family stress is a significant predictor of depressive symptoms, but not acculturative stress, for Haitian immigrants. Findings from the study are examined from a strengths‐based perspective, where empathic family stress is viewed as a sign of strong family connections among Haitian immigrants. Recommendations are provided for clinicians working with Haitian immigrants to help them experience empathic family stress in a healthy manner. RESUMEN Los estudios sugieren que las relaciones cercanas con los miembros de la familia directa y lejana suelen servir como una fuente fundamental de apoyo para las minorías étnicas y los inmigrantes que viven en los Estados Unidos (Carlson, Sperry, & Lewis, 1997; Sameroff & Suomi, 1996). Por ejemplo, los estudios han demostrado que las conexiones familiares suelen actuar como amortiguador para los factores estresantes asociados con el racismo y la adaptación a un país y cultura nuevos (Chan & Leong, 1994). Sin embargo, existen muy pocos estudios sobre estrés familiar empático; es decir, el estrés que se puede sufrir como resultado de las relaciones familiares cercanas cuando los miembros de la familia se preocupan los unos por los otros. Por lo tanto, este artículo intenta describir el estrés familiar empático desde la experiencia de inmigrantes haitianos, así como el papel que éste juega en su bienestar mental. Para comprender la importancia del estudio del estrés familiar empático entre familias inmigrantes negras, es importante resumir primero las principales características de las familias negras y haitianas.
Palabras clave: estrés familiar empático, haitiano, inmigrante, familias, depresión Research suggests that close relationships with immediate and extended family members often serve as a critical source of support for ethnic minorities and immigrants living in the United States (Carlson, Sperry, & Lewis, 1997; Sameroff & Suomi, 1996). For example, research has shown that family connection often acts as a buffer against the stressors associated with racism and adjustme