María Fernanda García
Biographic Data
| ID | 134157 |
|---|---|
| NAME | María Fernanda García |
| GIVEN NAMES | María Fernanda |
| FAMILY NAME | García |
| SIGNATURE | GARCÍA M F |
| AFFILIATIONS | Boston College |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7346-7870 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 35 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 23 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 35 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
The role of sociocultural context in the mental health of Venezuelan crisis migrants
Hunger Exposure and Post‐Traumatic Stress Among Venezuelan Youth
INTRODUCTION: The Venezuelan pre-migration context has exposed millions of people to extreme hardship, with youth particularly vulnerable to the psychological toll of forced displacement. The present mixed-methods study investigates the relationship between pre-migration hunger and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among Venezuelan migrant youth resettled in Colombia and the United States (U.S.). METHODS: Using an explanatory sequential design…
Pre- and Post-Migration Religiosity and Mental Health Among Puerto Rican “Maria Migrants” on the United States Mainland
The Importance of Motivations for Emigration in Understanding Post-Migration Mental Health Outcomes Among Diasporic Venezuelans in the United States and Colombia
Since 2015, over seven million Venezuelans have left their home country, with significant numbers resettling in the United States and Colombia. The aim of the present study was to examine the primary motivations for migration among Venezuelans relocating to these two countries, and to assess whether these motivations were associated with their destination choice. Additionally, we explored how migration motivations were linked to mental health out…
Optimism and language proficiency predict incidence of and remission from PTSD among climate migrants
We observed a rapid initial remission from positive PTSD screen for a substantial portion of the sample. Participants who are proficient in English language may be most likely to screen positive for PTSD over time and least likely to remit from a positive PTSD screen. Findings underscore the importance of optimism and higher English proficiency for both decreased incidence of and increased remission from PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 A…
Thriving amidst adversity
Validating the Exposure to Racism-Based Police Violence Scales
Navigating Crisis
Navigating immigrant paths
Understanding the experiences of unaccompanied youths in refugee foster care is important to tailor such systems to support the complex needs and desires of these youth. This instrumental case study sought to understand how a cohort of unaccompanied refugee youth experience refugee foster care as they navigate the “in‐betweenness” of adolescence. Eight youth (ages 17–21) from Guatemala and Honduras, nine foster parents, and two staff were intervi…
Something lost, something gained
in the lives of Puerto Rican migrants: As they departed their homeland, they exchanged social connections, support networks, and the vibrant social fabric of Puerto Rico for the promise of economic stability, reduced crime, and enhanced prospects for themselves and their children in the United States. This study represents a crucial contribution to the understanding of Puerto Ricans who have embarked on the challenging journey of relocating in th…
Hunger and Repression
Venezuela's national collapse has been one of the most remarkable in recent history. Marked by widespread scarcity, deep poverty, and persistent concerns about authoritarian governance, the crisis has prompted the emigration of ~8 million people since 2015—more than 25% of the once‐prosperous nation's population. We examine the roles of pre‐migration hunger, government repression, and their interaction in predicting post‐migration post‐traumatic …
A new approach to exploring agency in migration research
The role of expectancy violation in the selection of Latino professionals
Research has documented significant evidence of workplace bias in the United States, yet less focus has been given to the Latino working population, particularly related to those in high‐paying professional roles, despite the growing presence of Latinos in the US workforce. In this study, we integrate two complementary theories, that is, impression formation and expectancy violation theories, to examine the factors—including the presence of a Lat…
The impact of cultural stress on family functioning among Puerto Rican displaced families and the effect on mental health
Hurricane María caused significant devastation on the island of Puerto Rico, impacting thousands of lives. Puerto Rican crisis migrant families faced stress related to displacement and relocation (cultural stress), often exhibited mental health symptoms, and experienced distress at the family level. Although cultural stress has been examined as an individual experience, little work has focused on the experience as a family. To address this gap, w…
Delitos sexuales y nuevas formas de criminalización. Stealthing
En los últimos años ha adquirido mayor visibilidad en las agendas públicas de los países el reclamo efectuado por ciertos sectores de la sociedad civil –en particular los movimientos de mujeres y el colectivo LGBTIQ+– respecto de la necesidad de rever las lógicas bajo las cuales se suceden las relaciones sexuales, así como el lugar que se reserva al consentimiento y la autonomía personal, en particular de las mujeres. La amplia difusión de los a…
Daily levels of perceived context of reception and self-esteem among U.S. Latine university students
Latine university students represent 21.7% of the U.S. undergraduate student body, yet limited research explores their experiences with cultural stressors, self-esteem, and identity. This study examines the relationship between daily self-esteem and negative context of reception, moderated by two identity processes: normative identity style to host society and country of origin. Using multilevel models, we found that perceived negative context of…
The experience of cultural stress in the school system among Puerto Rican Hurricane María migrant families
Hurricane María prompted a large-scale migration from Puerto Rico to the United States. Among other changes, this entailed a disruption to youths' education and necessitated navigating a new educational system. While prior research indicates that school environments are important influences on migrant adolescents' behavioral health, the specific mechanisms of this influence remain underexplored. Guided by cultural stress theory, we conducted qual…
The Last Straw
Interplay of premigration crisis exposure and postmigration cultural stress on depressive symptoms among Venezuelan crisis migrants in Colombia
Our research provides new insights into the experiences of Venezuelan migrant youth and adults in Colombia. It provides further support for the importance of drawing from a crisis-informed cultural-stress framework when working with crisis migrant populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Longitudinal determinants of thriving in Puerto Rican climate crisis migrants on the U.S. mainland
Effects of cultural stressors and family etiologic factors on behavioral and mental health among Mexican and other Latino/a immigrant parents in the United States
The spillover effect of implicit immigrant stereotypes and incidental pandemic threat
Online xenophobia and mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth in Colombia
026). Interaction effects (Online × In-Person) revealed a pattern in which greater exposure to online xenophobia was associated with greater distress, but only at relatively low levels of in-person discrimination. Findings provide new insights regarding (a) the properties of an increasingly relevant measure of cultural stress, (b) how online xenophobia relates to mental health, and (c) the interplay of online and in-person cultural stressors vis-…
Cultural Stressors and Cultural Identity Styles Among Hispanic College Students
Research shows that cultural identity styles (CIS; i.e., hybrid identity style [HIS] vs. alternating identity style [AIS]) and cultural stressors (i.e., discrimination, negative context of reception, and bicultural stressors) are associated, but the directionality of this association remains unclear. Using a 2-wave, self-report dataset and a cross-lagged design, we examined the directionality of the associations between cultural stressors and CIS…
Hurricane stress, cultural stress, and mental health among hurricane Maria migrants in the U.S. mainland
Hurricane Maria (2017) caused great damage to Puerto Rico, undermining people's quality of life and forcing thousands to migrate to the U.S. mainland. Identifying individuals at elevated risk of suffering mental health problems as a function of being exposed to hurricane and cultural stress is crucial to reducing the burden of such health outcomes. The present study was conducted in 2020-2021 (3-4 years postdisaster) with 319 adult Hurricane Mari…
Valuing diversity
Using Leventhal's rules as well as the group‐value model of procedural justice, we first examined how the negative effects of perceived racial discrimination on procedural justice judgments can be attenuated by perceived organizational efforts to support diversity. Secondly, we examine how these effects ultimately impact affective commitment and organizational citizenship behavior. We found that employees who believe some individuals in the workp…
In-Between
We report on a grounded theory study of late-arriving immigrant youth (LIY) who arrived in the United States at 16–18 years of age and were referred to daytime General Education Diploma (D-GED) programs. These programs provide an alternate path to a high school diploma for youth with insufficient knowledge of English to complete graduation requirements before turning 19 years. Based on interviews with 38 youth from Latin America, we propose the c…
Validating the Exposure to Racism-Based Police Violence Scales
Navigating Crisis
Navigating immigrant paths
Understanding the experiences of unaccompanied youths in refugee foster care is important to tailor such systems to support the complex needs and desires of these youth. This instrumental case study sought to understand how a cohort of unaccompanied refugee youth experience refugee foster care as they navigate the “in‐betweenness” of adolescence. Eight youth (ages 17–21) from Guatemala and Honduras, nine foster parents, and two staff were intervi…
A new approach to exploring agency in migration research
Interplay of premigration crisis exposure and postmigration cultural stress on depressive symptoms among Venezuelan crisis migrants in Colombia
Our research provides new insights into the experiences of Venezuelan migrant youth and adults in Colombia. It provides further support for the importance of drawing from a crisis-informed cultural-stress framework when working with crisis migrant populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Cultural Stressors and Cultural Identity Styles Among Hispanic College Students
Research shows that cultural identity styles (CIS; i.e., hybrid identity style [HIS] vs. alternating identity style [AIS]) and cultural stressors (i.e., discrimination, negative context of reception, and bicultural stressors) are associated, but the directionality of this association remains unclear. Using a 2-wave, self-report dataset and a cross-lagged design, we examined the directionality of the associations between cultural stressors and CIS…
The emotional citizen
Mass migration and COVID-19 represent two converging challenges affecting immigrant-receiving countries. Our understanding of intergroup emotion profiles—positive (happiness, hope, and sympathy) and negative (anger, fear, and disgust)—among members of immigrant destination societies in times of global uncertainty remains limited. Drawing from panel samples from nine countries ( N = 13,645), and controlling for relevant covariates, we aimed to ext…
Perceived negative political climate among Hispanic/Latino adolescents before and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election
Valuing diversity
Using Leventhal's rules as well as the group‐value model of procedural justice, we first examined how the negative effects of perceived racial discrimination on procedural justice judgments can be attenuated by perceived organizational efforts to support diversity. Secondly, we examine how these effects ultimately impact affective commitment and organizational citizenship behavior. We found that employees who believe some individuals in the workp…
Gonzales, Roberto G., Nando Sigona, Martha C. Franco, and Anna Papoutsi, Undocumented Migration
Book review
In-Between
We report on a grounded theory study of late-arriving immigrant youth (LIY) who arrived in the United States at 16–18 years of age and were referred to daytime General Education Diploma (D-GED) programs. These programs provide an alternate path to a high school diploma for youth with insufficient knowledge of English to complete graduation requirements before turning 19 years. Based on interviews with 38 youth from Latin America, we propose the c…
The family crisis migration stress framework
Crisis migration refers to displacement of large numbers of individuals and families from their home countries due to wars, dictatorial governments, and other critical hazards (e.g., hurricanes). Although crisis migration can adversely influence direct and indirect effects on the mental health of adults and their children collectively as families, there is a deficiency in theory that addresses family level processes in this crisis migration conte…
Pásale
Given the rapidly changing political rhetoric and policies concerning immigration, and the likely impact of this rhetoric on immigrants' adjustment, it is essential to understand the experiences of recently arrived immigrant individuals and families. This article describes methods to recruit and retain recently arrived Hispanic families in longitudinal research and clinical practice. Barriers to continued engagement with recent-immigrant families…
After Hurricane Maria
Traumatic experiences from the storm may predispose Puerto Rican Hurricane Maria survivors to perceive cultural stress on the U.S. mainland. In turn, cultural stressors may be associated with internalizing symptoms and alcohol problems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Understanding the migration experience of unaccompanied youth
Migration of unaccompanied immigrant and refugee youth has increased around the world in the last decade, peaking in 2014 in the United States and in 2015 in Europe. Youth are pushed to migrate without parents or guardians to escape war, persecution, gang violence, and extreme poverty in their country of origin. Youth are vulnerable to violence and abuse at the hands of smugglers during their journeys but show great courage and strength as they e…
Hurricane stress, cultural stress, and mental health among hurricane Maria migrants in the U.S. mainland
Hurricane Maria (2017) caused great damage to Puerto Rico, undermining people's quality of life and forcing thousands to migrate to the U.S. mainland. Identifying individuals at elevated risk of suffering mental health problems as a function of being exposed to hurricane and cultural stress is crucial to reducing the burden of such health outcomes. The present study was conducted in 2020-2021 (3-4 years postdisaster) with 319 adult Hurricane Mari…
The emotional citizen
Mass migration and COVID-19 represent two converging challenges affecting immigrant-receiving countries. Our understanding of intergroup emotion profiles—positive (happiness, hope, and sympathy) and negative (anger, fear, and disgust)—among members of immigrant destination societies in times of global uncertainty remains limited. Drawing from panel samples from nine countries ( N = 13,645), and controlling for relevant covariates, we aimed to ext…
Perceived negative political climate among Hispanic/Latino adolescents before and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election
Validating the Negative Context of Reception Scale for Mainland Puerto Ricans
This study examined the extent to which the Negative Context of Reception Scale generates valid and reliable scores with Puerto Rican Hurricane Maria survivors. A sample of 319 adult Hurricane Maria survivors completed measures of the negative context of reception, discrimination, language stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, optimism, and life satisfaction. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) indicated that the previously validated one-facto…
The impact of cultural stress on family functioning among Puerto Rican displaced families and the effect on mental health
Hurricane María caused significant devastation on the island of Puerto Rico, impacting thousands of lives. Puerto Rican crisis migrant families faced stress related to displacement and relocation (cultural stress), often exhibited mental health symptoms, and experienced distress at the family level. Although cultural stress has been examined as an individual experience, little work has focused on the experience as a family. To address this gap, w…
Delitos sexuales y nuevas formas de criminalización. Stealthing
En los últimos años ha adquirido mayor visibilidad en las agendas públicas de los países el reclamo efectuado por ciertos sectores de la sociedad civil –en particular los movimientos de mujeres y el colectivo LGBTIQ+– respecto de la necesidad de rever las lógicas bajo las cuales se suceden las relaciones sexuales, así como el lugar que se reserva al consentimiento y la autonomía personal, en particular de las mujeres. La amplia difusión de los a…
Daily levels of perceived context of reception and self-esteem among U.S. Latine university students
Latine university students represent 21.7% of the U.S. undergraduate student body, yet limited research explores their experiences with cultural stressors, self-esteem, and identity. This study examines the relationship between daily self-esteem and negative context of reception, moderated by two identity processes: normative identity style to host society and country of origin. Using multilevel models, we found that perceived negative context of…
The experience of cultural stress in the school system among Puerto Rican Hurricane María migrant families
Hurricane María prompted a large-scale migration from Puerto Rico to the United States. Among other changes, this entailed a disruption to youths' education and necessitated navigating a new educational system. While prior research indicates that school environments are important influences on migrant adolescents' behavioral health, the specific mechanisms of this influence remain underexplored. Guided by cultural stress theory, we conducted qual…
The Last Straw
Interplay of premigration crisis exposure and postmigration cultural stress on depressive symptoms among Venezuelan crisis migrants in Colombia
Our research provides new insights into the experiences of Venezuelan migrant youth and adults in Colombia. It provides further support for the importance of drawing from a crisis-informed cultural-stress framework when working with crisis migrant populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Longitudinal determinants of thriving in Puerto Rican climate crisis migrants on the U.S. mainland
Effects of cultural stressors and family etiologic factors on behavioral and mental health among Mexican and other Latino/a immigrant parents in the United States
The spillover effect of implicit immigrant stereotypes and incidental pandemic threat
Online xenophobia and mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth in Colombia
026). Interaction effects (Online × In-Person) revealed a pattern in which greater exposure to online xenophobia was associated with greater distress, but only at relatively low levels of in-person discrimination. Findings provide new insights regarding (a) the properties of an increasingly relevant measure of cultural stress, (b) how online xenophobia relates to mental health, and (c) the interplay of online and in-person cultural stressors vis-…
Cultural Stressors and Cultural Identity Styles Among Hispanic College Students
Research shows that cultural identity styles (CIS; i.e., hybrid identity style [HIS] vs. alternating identity style [AIS]) and cultural stressors (i.e., discrimination, negative context of reception, and bicultural stressors) are associated, but the directionality of this association remains unclear. Using a 2-wave, self-report dataset and a cross-lagged design, we examined the directionality of the associations between cultural stressors and CIS…
The Importance of Motivations for Emigration in Understanding Post-Migration Mental Health Outcomes Among Diasporic Venezuelans in the United States and Colombia
Since 2015, over seven million Venezuelans have left their home country, with significant numbers resettling in the United States and Colombia. The aim of the present study was to examine the primary motivations for migration among Venezuelans relocating to these two countries, and to assess whether these motivations were associated with their destination choice. Additionally, we explored how migration motivations were linked to mental health out…
Optimism and language proficiency predict incidence of and remission from PTSD among climate migrants
We observed a rapid initial remission from positive PTSD screen for a substantial portion of the sample. Participants who are proficient in English language may be most likely to screen positive for PTSD over time and least likely to remit from a positive PTSD screen. Findings underscore the importance of optimism and higher English proficiency for both decreased incidence of and increased remission from PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 A…
Thriving amidst adversity
Psychology (29 works) · Migration, Health and Trauma (16 works) · Sociology (16 works) · Political science (14 works) · Social Psychology (14 works) · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research (12 works) · Psychiatry (11 works) · Social Psychology (11 works) · Geography (10 works) · Clinical Psychology (9 works)