Nuestras Historias: Latino* youth stories from upstate South Carolina

Photo elicitation is a collaborative visual method that uses photography to facilitate conversations between participants and researchers (Loeffler, 2004; Shaw, 2021). Latino youth are an understudied population and face many challenges and adversities, including stressors surrounding immigration and family illegality (Ellis, 2021; Camarillo et al., 2023). The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of Latino youth in the South Carolina Upstate as they develop coping strategies caused by status-related stressors surrounding their family's illegality. Eight Latino youth (ages 16–20) participated in this study using photo elicitation and the PHOTO method, capturing images of their everyday lives (Breny & McMorrow, 2020; Shaw, 2021). Guided by the Chicano/Latino Ethnic Identity Model and the Cycles of Deportability Framework, data analysis was conducted and identified three themes (Ellis, 2021; Ruiz, 1990). (a) Latino youths ethnic identity connected to their family and Latino communities, (b) Status-related stressors resulting in fears linked to macro socio-political environments and family illegality and (c) Development of coping strategies, specifically outdoor recreation. Findings from this project will help communities and organizations understand the importance of leisure for Latino youth facing status-related stressors.