title: Psychological Adjustment among Young Puerto Rican Mothers: Perceived Partner Support and the Moderating Role of Latino Cultural Orientation.
abstract: Adolescent mothers face multiple stressors and are at risk for experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms and parenting stress. This study examined the interplay of Latino cultural orientation and perceived support from romantic partners in protecting the adjustment of young, low-income, Puerto Rican mothers (N= 103;Mage = 18.0 yrs;SD= 1.2) during the second year postpartum. In multivariate analyses, perceived partner support was uniquely and negatively associated with both maternal depressive symptoms and parenting stress. However, in the case of parenting stress, this association was moderated by mothers' Latino cultural orientation. Perceived partner support was related to less parenting stress when mothers endorsed a relatively strong Latino cultural orientation; perceived partner support was no longer protective at low levels of Latino orientation. The implications for intervention and for the understanding of the role of culture in social support processes within close relationships are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 144 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44240, 330 672 3106, 330 672 3786.
authors.forename: Josefina M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 144 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44240.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 144 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44240.
authors.forename: Erin N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 144 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44240.
authors.forename: Petra A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 144 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44240.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silberman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 144 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44240.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wood
keywords: Adolescent Mothers; Cultural Orientation; Latina Mothers; Partner Social Support; Psychological Adjustment; Romantic Relationships