Elizabeth A Cutrer‐Párraga
Biographic Data
| ID | 6515915 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Elizabeth A Cutrer‐Párraga |
| GIVEN NAMES | Elizabeth A |
| FAMILY NAME | Cutrer‐Párraga |
| SIGNATURE | PÁRRAGA E A C |
| AFFILIATIONS | Brigham Young University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8038-1752 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 14 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2019 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
“We’re Trapped”
Mothers raising children with developmental disabilities in American Samoa navigate caregiving within fa’a Samoa ( the Samoan way of life ), where family, culture, and spirituality are deeply intertwined. Yet, the lived experiences of these mothers remain largely undocumented. This study explored how mothers make meaning of caregiving and its implications for holistic well-being within this unique cultural and geographic context. Using interpreta…
Navigating the Cocoon
This study examines how mothers raising children with disabilities in American Samoa experience the processes of seeking diagnosis, navigating special education, and advocating for services within an insular rural context. American Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. territory located 2600 miles from Hawaiʻi with a population under 50,000, represents a case of what we term insular rurality—a condition in which the structural disadvantages of rurality a…
A place to breathe
Adolescents face significant academic and emotional stressors, underscoring the need for accessible school-based mental health support. This qualitative study examined high school students’ (N = 17) perceptions of a school-based wellness center, including both users and non-users. Four focus groups were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore experiences, perceived benefits, and barriers to use. Students described the c…
It Would Ruin My Life”
Given rising mental health concerns among Pacific Islander (PI) adolescents, this population remains underserved by available mental health resources. This interpretative phenomenological analysis with focus groups (IPA-FG) examined the lived experiences and perceptions of 19 male PI adolescents (ages 14-16) from Native Hawaiian, Maori, Samoan, and Tongan backgrounds regarding mental health help-seeking behaviors. Four overarching themes emerged:…
Mirrors for Pacific Islander Children
Pacific Islander youth face disproportionately high rates of suicide and mental health challenges, yet culturally appropriate interventions remain scarce. This study investigated whether culturally adapted bibliotherapy could effectively promote resilience in American Samoan children by incorporating culturally relevant stories and coping strategies. Through collaboration with on-island Samoan cultural brokers, we developed and implemented cultur…
Contrapuntal framework of accessing mental health services among Pacific Islanders in the United States
These contrapuntal voices/tensions provide unique insights to therapy adaptations when working with PIs. We discuss clinical implications for working with this group and recommendations for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
The silent grief of grandmothers after an out-of-order death—An interpretative phenomenological analysis
This study delves into the lived experiences of grandmothers grappling with grief following the "out-of-order" death of a child, child-in-law, or grandchild, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis grounded in the Dual Process Model-Revised. With 70% of U.S. adults over 65 being grandparents, the research highlights their often-invisible role as both grievers and caregivers amid family loss. Findings reveal three key themes: navigating …
Ethnic–racial socialization experiences of Mexican American youth
Research has shown that ethnic–racial socialization (ERS) predicts education and mental health outcomes for adolescents. However, limited research has evaluated the ERS experiences of Latinx students. The current study examined ERS experiences of Mexican American youth in four focus group interviews that were transcribed and analyzed at both the individual and group level using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Main themes included feeling …
The role of reflection in supporting initially resistant teachers’ implementation of targeted reading instruction
One of the roles of reflection is to support teachers in implementing new instructional techniques. Collaborative reflection is a promising tool in addressing reluctance and resistance to implementing instructional techniques. This qualitative study describes how literacy coaches incorporated collaborative reflection with high implementing and initially resistant-low implementing teachers in four rural, low resourced school districts in the south…
Forgiveness and gratitude as mediators between religious commitment and well-Being among Latter-day Saint Polynesian Americans
An abundance of research has investigated well-being as it relates to religiosity and character strengths, such as forgiveness and gratitude. However, few studies have investigated how increases in forgiveness and gratitude might explain why religious commitment enhances well-being, particularly for U.S. ethnic/racial minority populations. This study investigated if the character strengths of forgiveness and gratitude mediated the relationship be…
Very Young Child Survivors’ Perceptions of Their Father’s Suicide
Each year in the United States, 7000 to 30,000 children experience their parent’s suicide. Due to the stigma associated with suicide, feelings of guilt, and intense grief, surviving family members avoid talking about suicide. Over time, children struggle with confusion and intense emotions associated with their parent’s suicide. In this study, seven adults, who reported being younger than six years old at the time of their father’s suicide, parti…
Healing after traumatic events
Historically, disaster response efforts have focused primarily on basic physical survival and safety—addressing medical emergencies and ensuring adequate shelter and supplies of food and water. However, in addition to physical survival, relief efforts must also consider strategies to promote emotional healing and psychological well‐being. In particular, those who intervene must consider the acceptability of intervention strategies, taking into ac…
Survivors’ perceptions of support following a parent’s suicide
Children who experience a parent's suicide are vulnerable to an increased risk for mental health disorders and suicide attempts. In this study, 17 adults, each a child survivor of their parent's suicide, shared their perceptions of support following the suicide. Helpful experiences included opening communication about suicide and offering individualized support. Unhelpful experiences included judgment and blame, silence regarding suicide, and a h…
Storybooks to facilitate children’s communication following parental suicide
Children often have difficulty talking openly about a parent's suicide. Bibliotherapy can help, but no bibliotherapy studies address parental suicide. We gave a focus group (5 paraprofessionals) 15 children's books addressing grief, parental suicide, and emotional expression, asking them which books were most helpful. They emphasized individualizing treatment to fit the child, recommending the books that honestly portrayed suicide, showed a way f…
Survivors’ perceptions of support following a parent’s suicide
Children who experience a parent's suicide are vulnerable to an increased risk for mental health disorders and suicide attempts. In this study, 17 adults, each a child survivor of their parent's suicide, shared their perceptions of support following the suicide. Helpful experiences included opening communication about suicide and offering individualized support. Unhelpful experiences included judgment and blame, silence regarding suicide, and a h…
Storybooks to facilitate children’s communication following parental suicide
Children often have difficulty talking openly about a parent's suicide. Bibliotherapy can help, but no bibliotherapy studies address parental suicide. We gave a focus group (5 paraprofessionals) 15 children's books addressing grief, parental suicide, and emotional expression, asking them which books were most helpful. They emphasized individualizing treatment to fit the child, recommending the books that honestly portrayed suicide, showed a way f…
Survivors’ perceptions of support following a parent’s suicide
Children who experience a parent's suicide are vulnerable to an increased risk for mental health disorders and suicide attempts. In this study, 17 adults, each a child survivor of their parent's suicide, shared their perceptions of support following the suicide. Helpful experiences included opening communication about suicide and offering individualized support. Unhelpful experiences included judgment and blame, silence regarding suicide, and a h…
Storybooks to facilitate children’s communication following parental suicide
Children often have difficulty talking openly about a parent's suicide. Bibliotherapy can help, but no bibliotherapy studies address parental suicide. We gave a focus group (5 paraprofessionals) 15 children's books addressing grief, parental suicide, and emotional expression, asking them which books were most helpful. They emphasized individualizing treatment to fit the child, recommending the books that honestly portrayed suicide, showed a way f…
Healing after traumatic events
Historically, disaster response efforts have focused primarily on basic physical survival and safety—addressing medical emergencies and ensuring adequate shelter and supplies of food and water. However, in addition to physical survival, relief efforts must also consider strategies to promote emotional healing and psychological well‐being. In particular, those who intervene must consider the acceptability of intervention strategies, taking into ac…
Forgiveness and gratitude as mediators between religious commitment and well-Being among Latter-day Saint Polynesian Americans
An abundance of research has investigated well-being as it relates to religiosity and character strengths, such as forgiveness and gratitude. However, few studies have investigated how increases in forgiveness and gratitude might explain why religious commitment enhances well-being, particularly for U.S. ethnic/racial minority populations. This study investigated if the character strengths of forgiveness and gratitude mediated the relationship be…
Very Young Child Survivors’ Perceptions of Their Father’s Suicide
Each year in the United States, 7000 to 30,000 children experience their parent’s suicide. Due to the stigma associated with suicide, feelings of guilt, and intense grief, surviving family members avoid talking about suicide. Over time, children struggle with confusion and intense emotions associated with their parent’s suicide. In this study, seven adults, who reported being younger than six years old at the time of their father’s suicide, parti…
The role of reflection in supporting initially resistant teachers’ implementation of targeted reading instruction
One of the roles of reflection is to support teachers in implementing new instructional techniques. Collaborative reflection is a promising tool in addressing reluctance and resistance to implementing instructional techniques. This qualitative study describes how literacy coaches incorporated collaborative reflection with high implementing and initially resistant-low implementing teachers in four rural, low resourced school districts in the south…
Ethnic–racial socialization experiences of Mexican American youth
Research has shown that ethnic–racial socialization (ERS) predicts education and mental health outcomes for adolescents. However, limited research has evaluated the ERS experiences of Latinx students. The current study examined ERS experiences of Mexican American youth in four focus group interviews that were transcribed and analyzed at both the individual and group level using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Main themes included feeling …
It Would Ruin My Life”
Given rising mental health concerns among Pacific Islander (PI) adolescents, this population remains underserved by available mental health resources. This interpretative phenomenological analysis with focus groups (IPA-FG) examined the lived experiences and perceptions of 19 male PI adolescents (ages 14-16) from Native Hawaiian, Maori, Samoan, and Tongan backgrounds regarding mental health help-seeking behaviors. Four overarching themes emerged:…
Mirrors for Pacific Islander Children
Pacific Islander youth face disproportionately high rates of suicide and mental health challenges, yet culturally appropriate interventions remain scarce. This study investigated whether culturally adapted bibliotherapy could effectively promote resilience in American Samoan children by incorporating culturally relevant stories and coping strategies. Through collaboration with on-island Samoan cultural brokers, we developed and implemented cultur…
Contrapuntal framework of accessing mental health services among Pacific Islanders in the United States
These contrapuntal voices/tensions provide unique insights to therapy adaptations when working with PIs. We discuss clinical implications for working with this group and recommendations for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
The silent grief of grandmothers after an out-of-order death—An interpretative phenomenological analysis
This study delves into the lived experiences of grandmothers grappling with grief following the "out-of-order" death of a child, child-in-law, or grandchild, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis grounded in the Dual Process Model-Revised. With 70% of U.S. adults over 65 being grandparents, the research highlights their often-invisible role as both grievers and caregivers amid family loss. Findings reveal three key themes: navigating …
“We’re Trapped”
Mothers raising children with developmental disabilities in American Samoa navigate caregiving within fa’a Samoa ( the Samoan way of life ), where family, culture, and spirituality are deeply intertwined. Yet, the lived experiences of these mothers remain largely undocumented. This study explored how mothers make meaning of caregiving and its implications for holistic well-being within this unique cultural and geographic context. Using interpreta…
Navigating the Cocoon
This study examines how mothers raising children with disabilities in American Samoa experience the processes of seeking diagnosis, navigating special education, and advocating for services within an insular rural context. American Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. territory located 2600 miles from Hawaiʻi with a population under 50,000, represents a case of what we term insular rurality—a condition in which the structural disadvantages of rurality a…
A place to breathe
Adolescents face significant academic and emotional stressors, underscoring the need for accessible school-based mental health support. This qualitative study examined high school students’ (N = 17) perceptions of a school-based wellness center, including both users and non-users. Four focus groups were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore experiences, perceived benefits, and barriers to use. Students described the c…
Psychology (10 works) · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health (6 works) · Medicine (6 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Psychotherapist (5 works) · Clinical Psychology (4 works) · Ethnic group (4 works) · Family Support in Illness (4 works) · Focus group (4 works) · Mental health (4 works)