Project Summary/Abstract
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans sought refuge on the US mainland, with
the majority relocating to South and Central Florida. More than one year after the hurricane, frontline journalism
and our preliminary research make clear that many post-Maria survivors plan to stay on the US mainland for the
foreseeable future. And yet, at present, our understanding of displaced Puerto Ricans remains very limited. Data
from our pilot studies and our ongoing work suggests that, among the myriad issues faced by this population,
alcohol misuse and mental health problems are particularly serious challenges. Of concern, in particular, is that
stress and trauma caused by the storm will lead to greater alcohol misuse and mental health problems among
Puerto Rican adults and their children, especially when coupled with the migration-related cultural stress
stemming from an unplanned, abrupt, and long-term displacement from the island territory with its distinct culture
and language. The proposed study is oriented around three objectives designed to build in a programmatic
fashion. The first objective relates to the emerging public health needs of migrants in the aftermath of the storm;
namely, to provide an epidemiologic portrait of the characteristics, experiences, and needs of post-Maria Puerto
Rican families who relocated to Florida. The second objective focuses on broader theoretical issues related to
post-disaster migration and adaptation; namely, to examine the prospective association between [a] trauma,
cultural stress, family functioning and [b] alcohol misuse and mental health problems, and to conduct a differential
test of cultural stress theory in South and Central Florida to inform intervention development in each region.
Based on our prior research and cultural stress theory, our central hypothesis is that families relocating to South
Florida (a bilingual region where Latino cultural influences are celebrated) will experience less migration-related
cultural stress and, consequently, enjoy greater family functioning and fewer alcohol misuse and mental health
problems compared to those in Central Florida (an area with a relatively recent uptick in Puerto Rican and other
Latino migration). The third objective focuses on ensuring—via engagement with stakeholders and
participants—that study findings are effectively translated to real world practice. The scientific premise for this
study is to inform efforts to support displaced Puerto Ricans and advance theorizing on disaster-related migration
and health. We will pursue the following specific aims: [1] Describe the characteristics, experiences, and needs
post-Maria Puerto Rican families in Florida; [2] Examine prospective relationships to test cultural stress theory
across distinct resettlement contexts; and [3] Engage with stakeholders and participants to develop guidelines,
best practices, and intervention recommendations for dissemination and testing in future research. The
contribution of this study is significant because it lays groundwork for the development of evidence-based
interventions for the needs of an at-risk group, and promises to answer context-specific questions central to the
advancement of cultural stress theory and broader theorizing around migrant adaptation and key outcomes.
