Understanding Latine Well-Being: Proposed Socio-Cognitive Mechanisms From Research on Expressive Interdependence

Why do Latine people living across the globe live happier and longer lives than non-Hispanic individuals despite facing structural and systemic challenges? This question has challenged researchers across disciplines and has been framed as the Latin American Happiness Paradox and the Hispanic Health Paradox, which together reflect patterns in the well-being and health of Latine populations across North, Central, and South America. In this paper, we review empirical evidence on both paradoxes, highlighting their robustness and scope. We then discuss the limitations of existing explanations and propose expressive interdependence as a framework for organizing the affective, social, and cognitive psychological mechanisms underlying subjective well-being and physical health in Latin American cultural contexts. We suggest that the unique blend of interdependence, positivity, emotional expression, relational mobility, and self-enhancement characteristic of Latin American cultures may give rise to psychological and physiological resilience, ultimately promoting well-being and health among Latine groups.

Duke Scholars

Author Cristina E Salvador Psychology & Neuroscience

Author Natalia Espinosa