Optimism and the American Dream: Latino Perspectives on Opportunities and Challenges Toward Reaching Personal and Family Goals

Abstract

Trends in positive psychology suggest optimism is an important trait related to happiness and well-being and that through the teaching of optimism, well-being can be enhanced (Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009). The purpose of this study was to identify areas of optimism within the context of the American Dream among Hispanic/Latino/as and to understand factors that create barriers to having an optimistic outlook on achieving the American Dream. Data for this study came from research designed to identify sources of acculturation related stress among Hispanic/Latino/as. A sample ( n = 93) of Hispanic/Latino/a adults were recruited for focus groups in California and Massachusetts. Results indicate that participants were optimistic in achieving their dreams, which included financial achievements, ownership, educational opportunities, and more. Some participants acknowledged that these expectations were unrealistic and were challenged by discrimination, limited skills, and lack of legal documentation status. Studies of psychological interventions that foster optimism among Hispanic/Latino/as are needed.

Measuring Hispanic Optimism and Personal Expectancy

“…Within this paradigm, stress occurs as a process initiated by the occurrence of a stressor (i.e., a major life event in the environment that is appraised as a threat that activates coping responses to that event). A process of coping strategies, use of personal resilience (e.g., hope, optimism) and seeking social support ultimately produces short and long-term outcomes (R. C. Cervantes et al, 2021). The analysis of variations in this transactional stress-coping paradigm suggests that mediating factors play a major role in the expression of stress related conditions and mental health outcomes.…”

“…During Phase 1, qualitative interviews were conducted to inform an expert panel, who generated a pool of items in Spanish and English for the HOPE measure. During Phase 2 the initial version of HOPE was administered in a community sample of Hispanic/Latinx immigrant adults as part of a longitudinal study of the influence of stress and resilience factors on biopsychosocial health outcomes among Hispanic/Latinx immigrants in North Carolina (N = 355) (R. C. Cervantes et al, 2021). Institutional Review Board approval was obtained prior to initiating recruitment and data collection.…”

“…Items for the HOPE measure were generated by (1) focus groups to identify important themes related to immigration and the American Dream in a sample of Hispanic/Latinx immigrants, and (2) an expert panel generating potential items, and then narrowing to a smaller set of items to administer in Phase 2. More details on the Phase 1 study can be found in the previously published study (R. C. Cervantes et al, 2021).…”

“…Participants. For the item development phase, a sample of Hispanic/Latinx adults were recruited in the states of California and Massachusetts as described in previously published research (R. C. Cervantes et al, 2021). A total of N = 93 adults participated in the 15 focus groups that generated information about stress, coping, and optimism related to the American Dream.…”

“…Participants. Participants comprised a subsample of (n = 355) Hispanic/Latinx immigrants in North Carolina from a community-based, longitudinal study of acculturation stress and health where participants were followed over 2 years (R. C. Cervantes et al, 2021). Eligibility criteria for the larger study were: (a) identify as Hispanic or Latino(x); (b) emigrated from a Spanish speaking country in Latin America or the Caribbean; (c) lived in the U.S. for at least a year; (d) between the ages of 18 and 44.…”