Research methods: Quantitative and Qualitative

Working with adult population

Immigration policy and practice

Immigration health and mental health.

In investigating integrative health among Latina immigrants in the U.S., my research has two components. The first component addresses the acculturative stress among Latina immigrants in the U.S.A., highlighting cultural and integration pattern differences among Latina women born in different parts of Latin America. Using quantitative methods, primarily Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), my research explores the interactive effect of socio-structural and cultural factors in coping with integration challenges among this population. The second component addresses the interactive effect of socio-structural and cultural determinants to cancer prevention engagement among Latina immigrants living in rural parts of the U.S. Through a grant which I received from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign Center for Advanced Studies (CAS), I administered a pilot study to test whether and how socio-economic and cultural influence on Latina immigrants engagement with breast cancer prevention varies among Mexican women living in rural and urban parts of the U.S. Working with a multi-disciplinary research team which I organised, consisting primarily of PhD students, I collected over 350 surveys and am now in the process of analysing this data. Other research interests include health among immigrant women, i.e. cancer, and women’s mental health in post-conflict areas such as the Balkan Penninsula.

Besides SEM, I use Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), Regression analyses, Confirmatory and Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA; CFA).

Recent publications:

Bekteshi, V., Sung-Wan, K. (2018). Contextualizing acculturative stress among Latino immigrants in the United States: a systematic review. Ethnicity & Health, 1-18. 10.1080/13557858.2018.1469733.

López-Cevallos, D. F., Gonzalez, P., Bethel, J. W., Castañeda, S. F., Isasi, C. R., Penedo, F. J., ... Gallo, L. C. (2017). Is there a link between wealth and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Hispanic/Latinos? Results from the HCHS/SOL sociocultural ancillary study. Ethnicity & health, 1-12. DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2017.1315370

Fox, R. S., Mills, S. D., Roesch, S. C., Sotres-Alvarez, D., Gonzalez, P., Bekteshi, V., ... Malcarne, V. L. (2017). Perceptions of Cancer Risk/Efficacy and Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors: Results From the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 1-10. DOI: 10.1177/1090198117744242

Bekteshi, V., Van Hook, M., Levin, J., Kang, S. W., & Tran, T. (2017). Social work with Latino immigrants: Contextual approach to acculturative stress among Cuban, Mexican and Puerto Rican Women. British Journal of Social Work, 47(2), 447-466. DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcw003.

Yes.