The Effects of Structural and Relational Social Capital Within a Community of Latina Immigrant Mothers

Social capital provides information and resources to help immigrant parents navigate social structures and support their families' well-being (Bankston, 2014; Serrano-Villar et al., 2017; Surkan et al., 2023). This study explored how unique components of structural and relational social capital influenced Latina immigrant mothers' ability to navigate social structures and support their children's education. Conducted within the context of a bilingual preschool that primarily serves Latine immigrant families, this study utilized social network analysis and survey data to examine the effects of mothers' structural and relational social capital. Findings suggested unique effects of Latina immigrant mothers' direct and indirect connections, and that their development of structural and relational social capital influenced their navigational support, parenting self-efficacy, and educational involvement. These results support community-focused programming that connects Latina immigrant mothers to one another, promoting the exchange of social and cultural assets to benefit their children and families.