Systematic Predictors of Latina Women’s Empowerment

SMSU Event Center BC

Abstract The Latinx population is a rapidly growing group in the United States and they have a variety of barriers that prevent them from empowerment (e.g. discrimination, violence, poverty, and mental health issues). Depression is the most recurrent mental health illness among countries like the United States. Young adult Latinx has been reported to have higher depression history among their socio-developmental life compared to non-Latinx. Drastic loss of income, the disturbance among discrimination and violence can impact mental health among Latinx. Particularly, Latinas are at a greater risk for severe mental health problems compared to non-Latinas. Latina college students were at higher risk to commit suicide and make suicidal attempts due to depressive symptoms. The lack of research on the matter is problematic on account of Latinx individuals because they experience greater barriers. Various studies have analyzed mental health issues among Latinas, but few research has investigated Latina women empowerment. Empowerment can be defined as the awareness among groups who are marginalized to help them to get control over their lives by obtaining enough resources to construct their personal skills and power. Latina college students ability to be empowered might have a positive or negative impact on their lives. The current study sought to understand how factors such as family gender roles, cultural gender roles, family support for education, objectifying media, non-family support, and family support might impact Latina women empowerment. Bronfenbrenner (1981) classified different types of systems to represent the ecological model which are the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem. Bronfenbrenner defined the ecological system as the interaction between individuals and the different systems will have an influence in their lives.