Thriving amidst adversity: longitudinal psychological well-being and economic mobility in the Puerto Rican climate diaspora

Maria Duque; Yara Acaf; Pablo Montero-Zamora; Cory L. Cobb; Duyen H. Vo; Sumeyra Sahbaz; Beyhan Ertanir; Tara Bautista; Lawrence G. Watkins; Aigerim Alpysbekova; Maria Fernanda Garcia; Jose Rodriguez; Melissa M. Bates; Ivonne A. Calderon; Mildred M. Maldonado-Molina; John B. Bartholomew; Miguel Pinedo; Tae Kyoung Lee; Christopher P. Salas-Wright; Seth J. Schwartz

doi:10.1080/10888691.2025.2451837

Thriving amidst adversity: longitudinal psychological well-being and economic mobility in the Puerto Rican climate diaspora

Maria Duque, Yara Acaf, Pablo Montero-Zamora, Cory L. Cobb, Duyen H. Vo, Sumeyra Sahbaz, Beyhan Ertanir, Tara Bautista, Lawrence G. Watkins, Aigerim Alpysbekova, Maria Fernanda Garcia, Jose Rodriguez, Melissa M. Bates, Ivonne A. Calderon, Mildred M. Maldonado-Molina, John B. Bartholomew, Miguel Pinedo, Tae Kyoung Lee, Christopher P. Salas-Wright, Seth J. Schwartz

Psychological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between psychological well-being (PWB) and upward economic mobility (UEM) among 321 Puerto Rican survivors of Hurricane Maria who migrated to the mainland. We aimed to identify unique thriving trajectory classes based on PWB and UEM and assess variations in sociodemographic factors, hurricane trauma, mental health, cultural stress, and collective wellness. Using growth mixture modeling, three thriving classes were identified: Elevated PWB/Low UEM (n=81, 25%), Moderate PWB/Low UEM (n=23, 7%), and High PWB/High UEM (n=217, 68%). Findings indicate that those who faced severe hurricane trauma reported the highest thriving, emphasizing PWB and UEM as critical for policy and intervention. Results challenge the prevailing idea that climate migrants, such as Maria migrants, inevitably suffer from chronic poor psychological well-being and economic insecurity.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Applied Developmental Science
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2025.2451837
State	Accepted/In press - 2025

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Applied Psychology
Life-span and Life-course Studies

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Duque, M., Acaf, Y., Montero-Zamora, P., Cobb, C. L., Vo, D. H., Sahbaz, S., Ertanir, B., Bautista, T., Watkins, L. G., Alpysbekova, A., Garcia, M. F., Rodriguez, J., Bates, M. M., Calderon, I. A., Maldonado-Molina, M. M., Bartholomew, J. B., Pinedo, M., Lee, T. K., Salas-Wright, C. P., & Schwartz, S. J. (Accepted/In press). Thriving amidst adversity: longitudinal psychological well-being and economic mobility in the Puerto Rican climate diaspora. Applied Developmental Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2025.2451837

Duque, M, Acaf, Y, Montero-Zamora, P, Cobb, CL, Vo, DH, Sahbaz, S, Ertanir, B, Bautista, T, Watkins, LG, Alpysbekova, A, Garcia, MF, Rodriguez, J, Bates, MM, Calderon, IA, Maldonado-Molina, MM, Bartholomew, JB, Pinedo, M, Lee, TK, Salas-Wright, CP & Schwartz, SJ 2025, 'Thriving amidst adversity: longitudinal psychological well-being and economic mobility in the Puerto Rican climate diaspora', Applied Developmental Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2025.2451837

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title = "Thriving amidst adversity: longitudinal psychological well-being and economic mobility in the Puerto Rican climate diaspora",

abstract = "The present study examines the relationship between psychological well-being (PWB) and upward economic mobility (UEM) among 321 Puerto Rican survivors of Hurricane Maria who migrated to the mainland. We aimed to identify unique thriving trajectory classes based on PWB and UEM and assess variations in sociodemographic factors, hurricane trauma, mental health, cultural stress, and collective wellness. Using growth mixture modeling, three thriving classes were identified: Elevated PWB/Low UEM (n=81, 25%), Moderate PWB/Low UEM (n=23, 7%), and High PWB/High UEM (n=217, 68%). Findings indicate that those who faced severe hurricane trauma reported the highest thriving, emphasizing PWB and UEM as critical for policy and intervention. Results challenge the prevailing idea that climate migrants, such as Maria migrants, inevitably suffer from chronic poor psychological well-being and economic insecurity.",

author = "Maria Duque and Yara Acaf and Pablo Montero-Zamora and Cobb, {Cory L.} and Vo, {Duyen H.} and Sumeyra Sahbaz and Beyhan Ertanir and Tara Bautista and Watkins, {Lawrence G.} and Aigerim Alpysbekova and Garcia, {Maria Fernanda} and Jose Rodriguez and Bates, {Melissa M.} and Calderon, {Ivonne A.} and Maldonado-Molina, {Mildred M.} and Bartholomew, {John B.} and Miguel Pinedo and Lee, {Tae Kyoung} and Salas-Wright, {Christopher P.} and Schwartz, {Seth J.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1080/10888691.2025.2451837",

language = "English (US)",

journal = "Applied Developmental Science",

issn = "1088-8691",

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T2 - longitudinal psychological well-being and economic mobility in the Puerto Rican climate diaspora

AU - Duque, Maria

AU - Acaf, Yara

AU - Montero-Zamora, Pablo

AU - Cobb, Cory L.

AU - Vo, Duyen H.

AU - Sahbaz, Sumeyra

AU - Ertanir, Beyhan

AU - Bautista, Tara

AU - Watkins, Lawrence G.

AU - Alpysbekova, Aigerim

AU - Garcia, Maria Fernanda

AU - Rodriguez, Jose

AU - Bates, Melissa M.

AU - Calderon, Ivonne A.

AU - Maldonado-Molina, Mildred M.

AU - Bartholomew, John B.

AU - Pinedo, Miguel

AU - Lee, Tae Kyoung

AU - Salas-Wright, Christopher P.

AU - Schwartz, Seth J.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - The present study examines the relationship between psychological well-being (PWB) and upward economic mobility (UEM) among 321 Puerto Rican survivors of Hurricane Maria who migrated to the mainland. We aimed to identify unique thriving trajectory classes based on PWB and UEM and assess variations in sociodemographic factors, hurricane trauma, mental health, cultural stress, and collective wellness. Using growth mixture modeling, three thriving classes were identified: Elevated PWB/Low UEM (n=81, 25%), Moderate PWB/Low UEM (n=23, 7%), and High PWB/High UEM (n=217, 68%). Findings indicate that those who faced severe hurricane trauma reported the highest thriving, emphasizing PWB and UEM as critical for policy and intervention. Results challenge the prevailing idea that climate migrants, such as Maria migrants, inevitably suffer from chronic poor psychological well-being and economic insecurity.

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Thriving amidst adversity: longitudinal psychological well-being and economic mobility in the Puerto Rican climate diaspora

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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