The study explored how Caribbean Latina mothers perceive and label distress in their children, focusing on behaviors linked to anxiety and disruptive actions.
Findings revealed that 40% of children with disruptive behaviors were attributed anxiety by their mothers, particularly through hyperactive and restless behavior rather than fears.
The term 'nervios' was categorized into three types: as an illness, a crisis, and a temperament, with the latter being the only one applied specifically to children.