Social Determinants of Health, Maternal Quality of Life, and Family Functioning Among Latinx Families of Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

This study aims to understand the relationships of social determinants of health (SDOH) and sociocultural factors with maternal quality of life and family functioning among Latinx families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We recruited 105 Latinx families of children with IDD across Texas and Illinois. We used conditional process models to examine the associations between demographic variables, SDOH, sociocultural factors (social support and family cohesion), and outcomes including maternal quality of life (QoL) and family functioning. We also tested whether sociocultural factors moderated the relationships between selected SDOH and the study outcomes. We found that not being a homeowner, experiencing food insecurity, and having greater levels of perceived discrimination were associated with lower maternal QoL. We also found that food insecurity and greater levels of perceived discrimination were associated with lower family functioning among Latinx families of children with IDD. Social support and family cohesion were positive correlates of the outcomes; however, they did not show significant moderation effects. On the contrary, we found that perceived discrimination may dampen the impact of social support on maternal QoL. This study highlights the impact of SDOH on the wellbeing of Latinx families of children with IDD. Policies and programs that promote homeownership, reduce food insecurity, and combat discrimination may benefit the wellbeing of Latinx families with children with IDD.