Mexican-Origin Families Coping Together: Does Family Coping Predict Child Coping?

Family is an important context for the development of adaptive child coping. Further, both family and child coping can promote positive mental health. This study examines whether family coping predicts child coping over 1 year among Mexican-origin immigrant families. Participants included 104 families with a child aged 6 -10 years (M-age = 8.39, 61% female) and at least 1 Mexican-origin parent. The majority of primary caregivers (M-age = 37.13) identified as female (97%), while 82% of secondary caregivers (M-age = 43.14) identified as male. Family income was 150% of the poverty line or below. Families completed video-recorded interaction tasks and family coping strategies were coded. Caregivers completed surveys on children's coping. Family problem solving was associated with child primary and secondary control coping concurrently and predicted less use of disengagement over time. Family refraining was linked to less disengagement concurrently, and predicted child secondary control coping over time. Family coping may promote adaptive child coping among immigrant families.