Latine immigrants in the United States (US) face significant health challenges exacerbated by acculturative stress, which arises from the pressures of adapting to a new culture. This study employs a systems thinking approach to explore the dynamic systems influencing acculturative stress and resilience among Latine populations in North Carolina. The systems mapping design involved a six step process: 1) setting a “guiding star” or common vision, 2) defining key helping and hindering forces that influence the health of the system, 3) uncovering the causes and effects of these forces through a community forum with interest holders from healthcare, education, and social services (N = 25), 4) developing causal feedback loops representing the underlying dynamics that produce and maintain system behavior 5) visualizing the interconnectivity across loops through four thematic mini-maps, and 6) identifying and mapping key cross-cutting elements that repeat across maps. Our findings reveal that acculturative stressors, including language barriers, economic instability, and systemic racism, interact to shape health outcomes. Key themes included the importance of community representation in leadership, the availability of culturally responsive services, and the role of trust and community engagement in mitigating stress. The analysis identified 27 feedback loops that illustrated how these elements function within interconnected systems (health, education, governance, social networks, economic structures, etc.), highlighting critical areas for intervention. By understanding the complexities of acculturative stress, interest holders can develop targeted interventions to promote the health and wellbeing of Latine immigrants.
This publication is part of the RAND external publication series. Many RAND studies are published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals, as chapters in commercial books, or as documents published by other organizations.
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.
