Resilience among Pregnant Women in a Low-Income, Immigrant Urban Neighborhood: A Photovoice Study in Elmhurst, Queens.

Resilience is increasingly recognized as a protective factor in maternal health, yet limited research has explored how pregnant women living in low-income, immigrant-dense urban neighborhoods define and express resilience in their everyday environments. This study used photovoice to capture community-rooted strengths among pregnant participants living in Elmhurst, Queens, a multicultural area with a significant immigrant population. Ten English-speaking pregnant participants were recruited from the CHIMES (Community and Household Infant-Maternal Exposures Study), a longitudinal cohort examining environmental and psychosocial influences on maternal and child health. Participants were asked to take 10-12 photographs representing "resilience" in their neighborhoods. At a follow-up study visit, they selected up to five images to discuss in semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis approach, with inductive coding to identify shared themes. Four key themes emerged: (1) Nature and Outdoor Spaces as a Form of Relief, highlighting parks and green areas as calming, restorative spaces; (2) Emotional Strength through Family Connections, emphasizing support from children and relatives; (3) Community Resources as Everyday Supports, including proximity to schools, clinics, and stores; and (4) Emotional Well-being and Inner Strength, reflecting participants' mental reframing and personal growth. Participants described resilience as rooted in everyday life, grounded in social connections, local environments, and individual outlooks. These findings challenge deficit-based narratives and underscore the importance of community-informed understandings of health and coping. Photovoice revealed layered dimensions of resilience among pregnant participants, offering insight for designing maternal health interventions that build on existing community strengths.