Exploring the mental health of Puerto Rican families who migrated after Hurricane María
Official title: The mental health of crisis migrant families: A longitudinal, mixed-methods study of Puerto Rican child-parent migrants in the post-Hurricane María years
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-10997574 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how moving to the U.S. after Hurricane María affects the mental health of Puerto Rican families, especially the kids and their parents, and it aims to understand how their experiences and family relationships influence their well-being over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $46,241 |
| NIH project number | 1R36MH138039-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997574 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include Puerto Rican families who migrated to the U.S. after Hurricane María, especially those with children under 11 years old.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who migrated for reasons unrelated to crises or who do not have children may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mental health challenges faced by Puerto Rican families who migrated to the U.S. after Hurricane María, focusing on both children and their adult caregivers. It employs a longitudinal, mixed-methods approach to gather data over time, examining how ongoing crises and family dynamics impact mental health. By understanding these relationships, the study aims to identify the long-term effects of displacement on child mental health and the role of caregivers in this process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health support and interventions for crisis migrant families, particularly children.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on adult crisis migrants, this study is novel in its focus on the long-term mental health of child-parent migrant families.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diaz, Yareliz — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Diaz, Yareliz
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.