Journal of Family Psychology
Volume 30, Issue 8, 2016, Pages 966-976

Latino parent acculturation stress: Longitudinal effects on family functioning and youth emotional and behavioral health (Article)

Lorenzo-Blanco E.I.* , Meca A. , Unger J.B. , Romero A. , Gonzales-Backen M. , Piña-Watson B. , Cano M.Á. , Zamboanga B.L. , Rosiers S.E.D. , Soto D.W. , Villamar J.A. , Lizzi K.M. , Pattarroyo M. , Schwartz S.J.
  • a Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, United States
  • b Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, United States
  • c Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States
  • d Family Studies and Human Development, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona, United States
  • e Family Studies and Human Development, College of Human Sciences, Florida State University, United States
  • f Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University, United States
  • g Department of Public Health, Florida International University, United States
  • h Department of Psychology, Smith College, United States
  • i Department of Psychology, Barry University, United States
  • j Institute for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, United States
  • k Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, United States
  • l Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, United States
  • m Institute for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, United States
  • n Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, United States

Abstract

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. © 2016 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

Acculturation stress Latino families Substance use Youth mental health

Index Keywords

depression longitudinal study conduct disorder Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior complication human Longitudinal Studies Stress, Psychological mental stress Substance-Related Disorders Depressive Disorder drug dependence ethnology Hispanic Americans Humans Aggression migrant Hispanic smoking Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants psychology Acculturation female self concept cultural factor Parenting Family Relations family relation child parent relation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85003583799&doi=10.1037%2ffam0000223&partnerID=40&md5=0c0d6a1bdda17625fe223ca365d66a93
DOI: 10.1037/fam0000223
ISSN: 08933200
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English