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The biobehavioral family model (BBFM) is a model that explains the connections between family relationships and mental and physical health. This model may be especially useful for modeling the connections between family relationships and health for Latinos. Using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study, this study tested two models of the BBFM: one using family emotional climate as the predictor variable (N = 2,554) and a second investigating the effects of romantic partner emotional climate as the predictor variable (n = 1,559). The moderating effects of nativity were also tested. Results indicated that as negative family emotional climate worsened, biobehavioral reactivity worsened, and as biobehavioral reactivity became more problematic, disease activity became more severe. The same pattern was found for romantic partner emotional climate. Findings suggest group differences between U.S.‐born and foreign‐born Latinos. Results highlight the applicability of the BBFM for Latino American adults.

AbstractUsing the Biobehavioral Family Model and data from five Midlife in the United States projects (N= 793), this study tests whether allostatic load and negative affect reactivity convey the effects of categorizations of family emotional climate on health appraisal and morbidity (chronic conditions) across 20 years. Results indicated that negative family emotional climate (high strain, low support/parental affection) was indirectly associated with health appraisal 20 years later via negative affect reactivity at 10 years. Ambivalent family emotional climate (high strain/support) was directly associated with greater morbidity. Allostatic load did not serve as a significant mediator in the models tested. Findings suggest that family emotional climates marked by strain and intensity may be especially problematic for health, partly by exacerbating negative affect reactivity.