Latino parent acculturation stress: Longitudinal effects on family functioning and youth emotional and behavioral health.
Latino parents can experience acculturation stressors, and according to the Family Stress Model (FSM), parent stress can influence youth mental health and substance use by negatively affecting family functioning. To understand how acculturation stressors come together and unfold over time to influence youth mental health and substance use outcomes, the current study investigated the trajectory of a latent parent acculturation stress factor and its influence on youth mental health and substance use via parent-and youth-reported family functioning. Data came from a 6-wave, school-based survey with 302 recent (<5 years) immigrant Latino parents (74% mothers, Mage = 41.09 years) and their adolescents (47% female, Mage = 14.51 years). Parents' reports of discrimination, negative context of reception, and acculturative stress loaded onto a latent factor of acculturation stress at each of the first 4 time points. Earlier levels of and increases in parent acculturation stress predicted worse youth-reported family functioning. Additionally, earlier levels of parent acculturation stress predicted worse parent-reported family functioning and increases in parent acculturation stress predicted better parent-reported family functioning. While youth-reported positive family functioning predicted higher self-esteem, lower symptoms of depression, and lower aggressive and rule-breaking behavior in youth, parent-reported family positive functioning predicted lower youth alcohol and cigarette use. Findings highlight the need for Latino youth preventive interventions to target parent acculturation stress and family functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina.
Elma I
EI
Lorenzo-Blanco
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami.
Alan
A
Meca
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.
Jennifer B
JB
Unger
Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona.
Andrea
A
Romero
College of Human Sciences, Florida State University.
Melinda
M
Gonzales-Backen
Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University.
Brandy
B
Piña-Watson
Department of Public Health, Florida International University.
Miguel Ángel
MÁ
Cano
Department of Psychology, Smith College.
Byron L
BL
Zamboanga
Department of Psychology, Barry University.
Sabrina E
SE
Des Rosiers
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California.
Daniel W
DW
Soto
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University.
Juan A
JA
Villamar
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan.
Karina M
KM
Lizzi
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California.
Monica
M
Pattarroyo
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami.
Seth J
SJ
Schwartz
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*