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Social Isolation and Perceived Barriers to Establishing Social Networks Among Latina Immigrants

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  • Published:
American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Research has identified numerous mechanisms through which perceived social isolation and lack of social support negatively impact health. Little research attention has been dedicated to factors that influence the development of social networks, which have the potential to decrease perceptions of social isolation and provide social support. There is mixed evidence concerning the availability of supportive social networks for Latinos in the US. This study explores trauma-exposed Latina immigrants’ experiences of social isolation in the US and its perceived causes. Twenty-eight Latina immigrant women participated in an interview about traumatic experiences. Informal help seeking and the availability of friendships in the US were also queried. Frequent comparisons between experiences in their home countries and in the US shaped the emerging themes of social isolation and lack of social support. Women reported feeling lonely, isolated, closed-in, and less free in the US due to family separation and various obstacles to developing and maintaining relationships. Socioeconomic, environmental, and psychosocial barriers were offered as explanations for their limited social networks in the US. Understanding experiences of social isolation as well as barriers to forging social networks can help inform the development of social support interventions that can contribute to improved health among Latinos.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH077071) to Dr. Kaltman. The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Marta Genovez who transcribed the interviews and Dr. Casaus and Dr. Ribes who provided feedback on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Alejandra Hurtado-de-Mendoza

    Present address: Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3300 Whitehaven St., NW Suite 4100, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Alejandra Hurtado-de-Mendoza, Adriana Serrano & Stacey Kaltman

  2. Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Felisa A. Gonzales

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  1. Alejandra Hurtado-de-Mendoza
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  2. Felisa A. Gonzales
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  4. Stacey Kaltman
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Correspondence to Alejandra Hurtado-de-Mendoza.

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Hurtado-de-Mendoza, A., Gonzales, F.A., Serrano, A. et al. Social Isolation and Perceived Barriers to Establishing Social Networks Among Latina Immigrants. Am J Community Psychol 53, 73–82 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-013-9619-x

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