The role of acculturation differences and acculturation conflict in Latino family mental health

Bibliographic Data

ID8107073
AuthorsKathryn E Lawton (NorthShore University HealthSystem, corresponding author), Alyson C Gerdes (0000-0001-6723-1952, Marquette University), Theresa L Kapke (0000-0001-6168-0423, Marquette University)
Year2017
Volume6
Issue2
Pages94-114
Publication date2017-03-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Latina/o Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2163-0070 • E-ISSN: 2168-1678
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/lat0000084
OpenAlexW626503395
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited52

>In order to help address the mental health disparities that exist for Latino families in the U.S., the current study sought to examine the acculturation-mental health link within the context of the Latino family and to identify potential mechanisms for intervention to alleviate mental health problems in this population. Specifically, our goal was to examine how parent-adolescent acculturation differences were related to mental health in Latino adolescents and their parents and to understand the role of acculturation conflict and family functioning within the Latino family. Participants included 84 adolescent-parent dyads recruited through bilingual middle schools. We found partial support for our hypothesis that family functioning mediates the relationship between acculturation differences and mental health outcomes for Latino parents. Additionally, we found partial support for our moderated mediation hypothesis; specifically, a significant conditional indirect effect was found for Latino cognitive acculturation differences on adolescent externalizing problems via family functioning at high levels of acculturation conflict. Exploratory analyses also indicated that acculturation conflict moderates the relationship between family functioning and externalizing problems for Latino adolescents. Results highlight the importance of understanding acculturation within the context of the Latino family, as findings differed for adolescents and their parents. Additionally, findings suggest that differences in acculturation may not always be problematic and their impact likely depends on how families interpret such differences

Acculturation · Ethnic group · Mental health · Psychotherapist · Sociology · Anthropology · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology

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