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Presenter: Nydia Y. Monagas, Psy.D., Rutgers University

Social Support and Self-Esteem in a Sample of Sexually Abused Latino Children: The Role of Familismo

Authors: Nydia Y. Monagas, Candice Feiring (Dissertation Chair)

Background:
Social support has been documented as playing a prominent role in the adjustment of sexually abused children.  However, knowledge is limited about the social support networks of Latino sexually abused children, and how social support affects self-esteem in this population.  According to familismo, family, both immediate and extended, serves as the primary social support system for Latinos, but limited research has specifically examined the role of relatives in their social support networks. 

Method:
An exploratory study was conducted to examine the nature and function of social support and its relation to self-esteem in a sample of sexually abused Latino children and adolescents. Patterns of support and associations with self-esteem were examined over three time points: within 8 weeks of abuse discovery (T1), 1 year later (T2), and 6 years after abuse discovery (T3).  Of particular interest was the role that adult relatives (kin, non-caregivers) played in the social support networks. Reliance on support from relatives was expected to reflect the cultural value of familismo in which family members are viewed as important sources of support and self-esteem in Latinos. 

Results:
The results indicated that, over time, primary caregivers and adult relatives were not sought as frequently and consistently as expected, nor were satisfaction with support from these sources as high as expected.  In contrast, friends were sought for support more frequently and consistently over time, and satisfaction with support from friends was higher than expected.  Support from primary caregivers was not as strongly related to self-esteem within and over time as expected, though there were a few relations at T1 and T2.  There were no relations between primary caregiver support and self-esteem at T3.  Consistent with familismo, support from adult relatives within and across time was associated with T3 self-esteem.  Support from friends at T2 was negatively related to self-esteem at T3, whereas friend support at T3 was positively associated with self-esteem at T3. 

Conclusions:
Familismo may present a double bind for primary caregivers and adult relatives and may negatively impact support and self-esteem of Latino abused children.  Also, support from adult relatives is important for abused Latino children’s self-esteem, particularly in the absence of support from primary caregivers and reliance on friends, at the exclusion of primary caregivers and adult relatives, may be particularly detrimental for abused Latino youth’s self-esteem.  Latino cultural values should be an explicit part of psychotherapy in order to help the family, immediate and extended and the victim reflect on their values and how they may affect the healing process.