Peer-reviewed article
At the height of the pandemic: Experiences of Latine caregivers in an online culturally adapted parenting intervention.
Londoño T, Villanueva EG, Fuentes-Balderrama J, Amador Buenabad NG, Parra-Cardona R ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study examined how 22 Latine immigrant caregivers (mostly mothers from Mexico) experienced an online culturally adapted parenting program during the COVID-19 pandemic in central Texas. Participants reported gaining parenting confidence, skills, and felt validated and supported through the online community. The culturally competent delivery and safe space for discussing immigration experiences were key strengths, though some faced technology barriers and wanted more content on father engagement and adolescent parenting.
Key points
- Caregivers reported increased parenting confidence and skill acquisition through the online program
- Cultural competence of interventionists and creation of safe spaces for sharing immigration experiences were key facilitators
- Some participants encountered technological barriers to participation in the virtual format
- Participants identified ongoing needs for more father engagement, adolescent-focused content, and support with intergenerational parenting patterns
- Online synchronous delivery enhanced accessibility during the pandemic while maintaining cultural responsiveness
Limitations
This is a qualitative study with 22 participants from one region, so findings cannot be generalised to other Latine populations or geographic contexts. The study does not measure parenting or child outcomes objectively, only caregiver experiences and perceptions.
Abstract
Culturally adapted parent training prevention interventions are critical for supporting the mental health and resilience of Latine immigrant families. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, parent training programs transitioned to online delivery, increasing flexibility and expanding access. This qualitative study explored the experiences of first-generation Latine immigrant caregivers (N = 22) in central Texas-86.4% of whom were of Mexican origin-who participated in a culturally adapted, synchronous online parent training program during the pandemic. Most participants were mothers (21 of 22). Through thematic analysis of focus group data, four key themes were generated: (a) immigration-related experiences and parenting challenges, (b) intervention components that addressed these challenges, (c) barriers and facilitators to participation, and (d) ongoing parenting needs. Caregivers reported increased parenting confidence and skill acquisition, alongside a sense of validation and support through the online community. While the virtual format enhanced accessibility, some participants encountered technological barriers. Key facilitators included the cultural competence of interventionists and the creation of a safe space for sharing immigration experiences. Participants highlighted the needs for further adaptation, including more father engagement, adolescent-focused content, and support in addressing intergenerational parenting patterns. Findings underscore the importance of creating therapeutic spaces that acknowledge immigration-related trauma and stress while building parental resilience and family well-being. These findings provide valuable insights for improving online synchronous delivery formats to enhance accessibility while maintaining program effectiveness and cultural responsiveness, promoting mental health equity for immigrant communities. Clinical and empirical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Online synchronous culturally adapted parent training program delivered to first-generation Latine immigrant caregivers
- Population
- 22 first-generation Latine immigrant caregivers (86.4% Mexican origin, 95% mothers) in central Texas during COVID-19 pandemic
Key finding
Caregivers reported increased parenting confidence and skill acquisition