In this project, I explored the effects of caregiving responsibilities (e.g., household tasks, help with finances, translations, etc.) on distress among Latinx youth, and I wanted to find out if family cohesion or family conflicted mediated those results. A sample of 199 Latinx students, majority female (58%) and of Mexican-origin (76%) were recruited to complete two surveys 1-year apart. The study suggests that caregiving was positively and negatively associated with distress among Latinx adolescents. The cross-sectional results show how for some Latinx teens, performing caregiving responsibilities in their home increases family cohesion and reduces distress. This may lead to the development of responsibility, cooperative skills, and maturity (Kuperminc et al., 2013). Well, for other Latinx teens, these responsibilities might create conflict that results in distress. Latinx youth in this group may feel overwhelmed or that their caregiving responsibilities are interfering with their independence (East, P. L. 2010).

Throughout this project, I was mentored by a graduate clinical-community psychology student and by Gabriel Kuperminc, a professor of psychology and public health at GSU.