Navigating Shared Stress: Dyadic Links Between COVID-19 Stressors and Mental Health in Low-Income Latine Youth and Mothers

Preliminary evidence suggests that the stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the entire family system, necessitating a family-wide and culturally sensitive approach to understanding its impact. Little is known regarding the nuanced associations between pandemic stressors and the mental health of parents and youth, particularly among ethnic minority communities. In this study, we examine low income Latine families, who were adversely affected by the pandemic, exploring within-dyad associations between subtypes of pandemic stressors with mental health. Youth (ages 8-17) and their mothers (M age=41.03 years) were followed from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic, completing measures of mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression) and pandemic stress. Findings revealed domain specificity of associations, suggesting that the pandemic was differentially linked with depression and anxiety for youth and mothers. Further, our data revealed evidence of partner effects of mothers' pandemic stressors (previous COVID-19 infection, risk of contracting COVID-19, financial and physical impact) on youth depression, as well as partner effects of youth's and mother's pandemic stressors. Findings reveal a complex pattern of interrelations between youth and mother stress exposure and mental health during this time, providing directions for prevention/intervention efforts for underserved populations during global crises.