Mental health and resilience in Venezuelan families living abroad
The Behavioral Health of Venezuelan Families in Diaspora: A Cross-National Study of Migration-Related Stress and Resilience
This project looks at how migration-related stress affects depression, alcohol use, and family relationships among Venezuelan parents and teenagers in the United States and Colombia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290320 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a Venezuelan parent or adolescent who left Venezuela, researchers will compare families living in the US and in Colombia to learn about stress, family functioning, depression, and alcohol use. The team will collect information through surveys and interviews with both parents and youth and measure key protective factors that help families cope. By comparing experiences across countries, they aim to identify what parts of life in the US may increase or reduce risks. The results are meant to guide better programs and supports for Venezuelan families facing migration-related stress.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Venezuelan parents and their adolescent children who migrated from Venezuela and now live in the United States or in Colombia.
Not a fit: People who are not of Venezuelan descent or who do not have migration-related stress are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project's specific findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform culturally tailored programs and services to reduce depression and alcohol misuse and strengthen family support for Venezuelan families.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cross-sectional work and formative studies suggest links between migration stress, depression, and alcohol misuse, but large cross-national studies and resulting interventions for Venezuelan diaspora families remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maldonado-Molina, Mildred M — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Maldonado-Molina, Mildred M
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 below.