Intertwined adversities: a mixed methods study of ACEs and migration trauma among Latinx immigrants

Latinx immigrants experience significant mental health inequities shaped by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and migration-related adversity. Although these facets of adversity have been examined extensively, research often operates in silos, limiting a comprehensive understanding of their interconnected nature. This exploratory mixed methods study examines associations among ACEs, migration-related adversity, and perceived social support among adult Latinx immigrants residing in an ethnic enclave of a hyper-segregated Midwestern city. Using quantitative surveys from a pilot of the Cultivating Resilience intervention (N = 50) and semi-structured interviews with a subsample (n = 16), we performed rapid qualitative and exploratory quantitative analyses separately and integrated findings to derive overarching insights. Integrated analyses yielded six overarching themes: (1) Salient types of adversity; (2) Associations between distinct types of adversity in early childhood; (3) Unmet emotional needs and social support outcomes; (4) The fulfillment of social support; and (5) The perpetuation of intergenerational trauma. Advancing integrated knowledge of adversity among Latinx immigrants is a critical public health goal, as our findings suggest the chronic and compounding nature of these experiences and the central role of perceived social support, highlighting the need for culturally and trauma-informed interventions that strengthen and coordinate support systems within evolving familial dynamics.