Journal of Adolescence
Volume 42, 2015, Pages 31-39

Depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors among Hispanic immigrant adolescents: Examining longitudinal effects of cultural stress (Article)

Cano M.A.* , Schwartz S.J. , Castillo L.G. , Romero A.J. , Huang S. , Lorenzo-Blanco E.I. , Unger J.B. , Zamboanga B.L. , Des Rosiers S.E. , Baezconde-Garbanati L. , Lizzi K.M. , Soto D.W. , Oshri A. , Villamar J.A. , Pattarroyo M. , Szapocznik J.
  • a Florida International University, United States
  • b University of Miami, United States
  • c Texas A and M University, United States
  • d University of Arizona, United States
  • e University of Miami, United States
  • f University of South Carolina, United States
  • g University of Southern California, United States
  • h Smith College, United States
  • i Barry University, United States
  • j University of Southern California, United States
  • k University of Miami, United States
  • l University of Southern California, United States
  • m University of Georgia, United States
  • n Northwestern University, United States
  • o University of Southern California, United States
  • p University of Miami, United States

Abstract

This study examined longitudinal effects of cultural stress (a latent factor comprised of bicultural stress, ethnic discrimination, and negative context of reception) on depressive symptoms and a range of externalizing behaviors among recently (≤5 years in the U.S. at baseline) immigrated Hispanic adolescents. A sample of 302 adolescents (53% boys; mean age 14.51 years) completed baseline measures of perceived ethnic discrimination, bicultural stress, and perceived negative context of reception; and outcome measures of depressive symptoms, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, aggressive behavior, and rule-breaking behavior six months post-baseline. A path analysis indicated that higher cultural stress scores predicted higher levels of all outcomes. These effects were consistent across genders, but varied by study site. Specifically, higher cultural stress scores increased depressive symptoms among participants in Miami, but not in Los Angeles. Findings suggest that cultural stress is a clinically relevant predictor of depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors among Hispanic immigrant adolescents. © 2015 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.

Author Keywords

Conduct problems immigrants Hispanic adolescents Cultural stress Substance use Depressive symptoms

Index Keywords

immigrant depression longitudinal study conduct disorder cultural stress externalizing behavior rule breaking behavior alcohol consumption human Substance-Related Disorders Depressive Disorder drug dependence ethnology Hispanic Americans Aggression United States Florida Humans migrant racism smoking Hispanic California Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female psychology risk factor Risk Factors stress cultural factor Article Adolescent Behavior major clinical study Social Environment outcome assessment Los Angeles
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84927747547&doi=10.1016%2fj.adolescence.2015.03.017&partnerID=40&md5=e41e3e2f8e36df8425ab7a56ee45ebb3
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.03.017
ISSN: 01401971
Cited by: 42
Original Language: English