title: Cultural predictors of physical and mental health status among Mexican American women: a mediation model.
abstract: This study, using secondary data analysis, examined a mediation model of acculturation and ethnic pride as predictors of physical and mental health outcomes in a sample of 561 Mexican American women. Factors postulated as mediators were family support and religiosity. Systematic across-group comparison analyses were conducted to examine sources of differences in the mediation model between immigrant and non-immigrant women. The results partially supported the hypothesized mediation model, indicating that family support, but not religiosity, was a significant mediator in the relationship between ethnic pride and mental health problems. In addition, as differences between immigrant and non-immigrant women were observed only in the variables means, but not in the factor loadings or regression paths, the model tested may capture a common psychosocial process that affects these women and their health outcomes. Overall, this study offers important implications for future research and the design of intervention programs for Mexican American women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 870 Broadway, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA. Khanh_Dinh@uml.edu
authors.forename: Khanh T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Dinh
authors.forename: Felipe González
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Jenn-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tein
authors.forename: Su Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012067:Religion; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support