Latina undergraduate students’ barriers and facilitators of health are examined: Barriers to psychological health—separating from family, pressure to succeed, and racism; Barriers to physical health—lacking health insurance, and discomfort using campus sports facilities; and Facilitators of psychological health—membership in Latina student organizations, pride being the first family member to attend college, and ability to motivate other Latino/as to attend college. Using home remedies facilitated students’ physical health. Practical recommendations for university personnel are discussed.
American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment II. (2014). Reference group executive summary fall 2013. Hanover, MD: American College Health Association.
2.
AzmitiaA.BrownL. N. (2003). Latina immigrant parents’ beliefs about the “path of life” of their adolescent children. In KernsK. A.ContrerasJ. M.Neal-BarnettA. M. (Eds.), Latino children and families in the United States: Current research and future directions (pp. 77-106). Westport, CT: Praeger.
3.
CardozaD. (1991). College attendance and persistence among Hispanic women: An examination of some contributing factors. Sex Roles, 24, 133-147.
4.
CastellanosJ.GloriaA. M. (2007). Research considerations and theoretical application for best practices in higher education. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 6, 378-396.
5.
CastroF. G.FurthP.KarlowH. (1985). The health beliefs of Mexican American and Anglo American women. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 6, 365-383.
6.
CauceA. M.Domenech-RodriguezM. (2003). Latino families: Myths and realities. In KernsK. A.ContrerasJ. M.Neal-BarnettA. M. (Eds.), Latino children and families in the United States: Current research and future directions (pp. 5-25). Westport. CT: Praeger.
7.
CavazosJ.JohnsonM. B.FieldingC.CavazosA. G.CastroV.VelaL. (2010). A qualitative study of resilient Latina/o college students. Journal of Latinos and Education, 9, 172-188.
8.
CavazosJ.JohnsonM. B.SparrowG. S. (2010). Overcoming personal and academic challenges: Perspectives from Latina/o college students. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 9, 304-316.
9.
CerezoA.ChangT. (2013). Latina/o achievement at predominantly white universities: The importance of culture and ethnic community. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 12, 72-85.
10.
CreswellJ. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
11.
D’AlonzoK. T.FischettiN. (2008). Cultural beliefs and attitudes of Black and Hispanic college-age women toward exercise. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 19, 175-183.
12.
DeSantisL.UgarrizaD. N. (2000). The concept of theme as used in qualitative nursing research. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 22, 351-372.
13.
EspinozaR. (2010). The good daughter dilemma: Latinas managing family and school demands. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 9, 317-330.
14.
EvansB. (2008). Attached at the umbilicus: Barriers to educational success for Hispanic/Latino and American Indian nursing students. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24, 205-217.
15.
GándaraP.ContrerasF. (2009). The Latino education crisis. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
16.
GándaraP.OsugiL. (1994). Educationally ambitious Chicanas. Thought & Action: The NEA Higher Education Journal, 10, 7-35.
17.
GermainC. P. (2001). Ethnography: The method. In MunhillP. L. (Ed.), Nursing research: A qualitative perspective (3rd ed., pp. 277-307). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
18.
GinorioA. B.HustonM. (2001). Si, se puede! [Yes, we can!] Washington, DC: American Association of University Women Educational Foundation.
19.
GloriaA. M.CastellanosJ. (2012). Desafios y bendiciones: A multiperspective examination of the educational experiences and coping responses of first-generation college Latina students. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 11, 82-99.
20.
GloriaA. M.CastellanosJ.OrozcoV. (2005). Perceived educational barriers, cultural fit, coping responses, and psychological well-being of Latina undergraduates. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 27, 161-183.
21.
GloriaA. M.RodriguezE. R. (2000). Counseling Latino university students: Psychosociocultural issues for consideration. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78, 145-154.
22.
GonzalezK. P.JovelJ. E.StonerC. (2004). Addressing the unique needs of Latino students: Latinas: The new Latino majority in college. New Directions for Student Services, 105,17-27.
23.
HwangW. C.GotoS. (2008). The impact of perceived racial discrimination on the mental health of Asian American and Latino college students. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 326-335.
24.
KruegerR. A.CaseyM. A. (2000). Focus groups (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
25.
LeCompteM. D.SchensulJ. J. (1999). Designing and conducting ethnographic research. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.
26.
LewinsA.SilverC. (2008). Using software in qualitative research: A step-by-step guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
27.
LopezR. A. (2005). Use of alternative folk medicine by Mexican American women. Journal of Immigrant Health, 7, 23-31.
28.
MadrizE. I. (1998). Using focus groups with lower socioeconomic status Latina women. Qualitative Inquiry, 4, 114-126.
29.
MavilleJ.HuertaC. G. (1997). Stress and social support among Hispanic student nurses: Implications for academic achievement. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 4(1), 18-25.
30.
MilesM. B.HubermanA. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
31.
MuñozL. R.EtnyreA.AdamsM.HerbersS.WitteA.HorlenC.. . . JonesM. E. (2010). Awareness of heart disease among female college students. Journal of Women’s Health, 19, 2253-2259.
Piña-WatsonB.CastilloL. G.OjedaL.RodriguezK. M. (2013). Parent conflict as a mediator between marianismo beliefs and depressive symptoms for Mexican American college women. Journal of American College Health, 61, 491-496.
34.
RauschhuberM.LowryJ.EtnyreA.GillilandI.SethnessR.SorensenJ.. . . JonesM. E. (2005). Hispanic and female college students: Evidence for increased risk for cardiac disease. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 4, 34-50.
35.
ReynoldsA. L.SnevaJ. N.BeehlerG. P. (2010). The influence of racism-related stress on the academic motivation of Black and Latino/a students. Journal of College Student Development, 51, 135-149.
36.
RichardsL.MorseJ. M. (2007). User’s guide to qualitative methods (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
37.
Riegle-CrumbC. (2010). More girls go to college: Exploring the social and academic factors behind the female postsecondary advantage among Hispanic and white students. Research in Higher Education, 51, 573-593.
38.
RodriguezA. L.Guido-DiBritoF.TorresV.TalbotD. (2000). Latina college students: Issues and challenges for the 21st century. NASPA Journal, 37, 511-527.
SaldanaJ. (2009). The coding manual for qualitative researchers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
41.
SaundersM.SernaI. (2004). Making college happen: The college experiences of first-generation Latino students. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 3, 146-163.
42.
Shamaley-KornatzA.SmithB.TomakaJ. (2007). Weight goals, perceptions, and practices among Hispanic and Anglo college females. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 29, 535-553.
43.
SyS. R. (2006). Family and work influences on the transition to college among Latina adolescents. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 28, 368-386.
44.
SyS. R.RomeroJ. (2008). Family responsibilities among Latina college students from immigrant families. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 7, 212-227.
45.
ValenzuelaA. (1999). Gender roles and settlement activities among children and their immigrant families. American Behavioral Scientist, 42, 720-742.
46.
VillarruelA. M.CanalesM.TorresS. (2001). Bridges and barriers: Educational mobility of Hispanic nurses. Journal of Nursing Education, 40, 245-251.
47.
WilliamsP. G.HolmbeckG. N.GreenleyR. N. (2002). Adolescent health psychology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 828-842.
48.
WolcottH. F. (1999). Ethnography: A way of seeing. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.
49.
YoungG. (1992). Chicana college students on the Texas-Mexico border: Tradition and transformation. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 14, 341-352.
50.
ZellM. C. (2010). Achieving a college education: The psychological experiences of Latina/o community college students. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 9, 167-186.
