Coping With COVID-19: The Impact of the Pandemic on Latina Immigrant Women's Mental Health and Well-being

Health Educ Behav. 2021 Dec;48(6):733-738. doi: 10.1177/10901981211050638. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

Abstract

Introduction: We sought to describe how Latina immigrants living in King County coped with the pandemic, including their attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19, and the impact of the pandemic on their mental health and wellbeing.

Method: We conducted surveys by phone with adult Spanish-speaking Latina immigrants (n = 137) in the summer of 2020.

Results: Very few women had been infected with COVID-19, and 23% reported having been tested. Most frequent reasons for not being tested were not knowing where to go (14%), concerns over the cost (15%), and not wanting to know if they were infected (12%). Most participants had concerns about paying for housing (76%) and food (73%). Depression and anxiety symptoms were in the moderate range. Almost all participants were practicing recommended preventive behaviors.

Conclusion: Although few participants had COVID-19 infection, the pandemic had significant impacts on their mental health and ability to meet basic needs.

Keywords: COVID-19; Latino; immigrant; mental health; women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • COVID-19*
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2