Background: Latinos are the fastest growing racial / ethnic group in the US and the second largest behind whites. Thirty-five percent are foreign-born immigrants who are at higher risk of mental disorders, resulting from disproportionately high rates of social and economic disadvantage, and the stressful conditions associated with migration and acculturation. Resilience is the ability to recover from stress or "bounce back" from difficult experiences; it contributes to lower rates of anxiety and depression, and higher levels of life satisfaction and emotional stability. This study is the first to examine the relationship between cultural protective factors, resilience, and psychological distress in first-generation Latino immigrants. The study also seeks to determine whether resilience mediates the relationship between protective factors and psychological distress. Methods: A mixed methods, community-based participatory research (CBPR) study conducted with a Latino community center; participants included first-generation Latino immigrants. Trained bilingual Latino research assistants administered in-person surveys from July – September 2018. The following data were obtained: Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Duke University Religion Index (DUREL), Multi-group Ethnic Identity measure (MEIM), and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL-12). Simple correlation, linear regression, and mediation analysis was performed using SPSS. Four focus groups explored how culture and the lived experience of immigrants influences resilience. Focus groups were conducted from November 2018-December 2018. Focus group data were analyzed using deductive, thematic analysis. Results: Participants (n=128) were mostly female (77%), married (71%), and aged 18-49 years (49%). Resilience was positively related to social support (p=.001) and religiosity (p=.006), and negatively related to psychological distress (p=.001). Resilience significantly mediated the relationship between social support and psychological distress (p=.006). Focus group participants indicated that resilience depends on social support through multiple interpersonal relationships and several aspects of faith. Participants also indicted individual characteristics- optimism, problem-solving, perseverance- and individual behaviors- self-care and physical activity influence resilience. Conclusions: High levels of resilience in Latino immigrants contribute to lower levels of psychological distress, and social support and faith are the key contributors. Promoting connectivity and social support in Latino communities can improve wellbeing by increasing resilience and reducing distress.