Exploring Sociocultural Moderators on Minority Related Stressors and Depressive Symptoms in Latinx Youth

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Topic - Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Abstract

The psychological well-being of Latinx populations continues to be impacted by minority-related stressors (MRS), such that acculturative stress and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination are related to an increased risk for anxiety and depression (Suarez-Morales & Lopez, 2009; Ornelas & Perreira, 2011). Previous research examining familial factors, ethnic-identity, and psychological well-being suggest that these factors may serve as protective factors and buffers in the relationship between MRS and psychological adjustment in Latinx samples (Cheng et al., 2016; Rivas-Drake et al., 2019) However, it is unclear how these potential moderators impact depressive symptoms in Latinx youth overtime. Therefore, three aims guided this study, first to assess the relationships between MRS and potential moderating variables to depressive symptoms. Second, to explore the moderating effects of family cohesion, familism, and ethnic identity, respectfully, on the relationship between acculturative stress, discrimination, and depressive symptoms. Third, to explore a moderated mediation, analyzing paths from acculturative stress and discrimination leading to depressive symptoms as moderated by familism, family cohesion, and ethnic identity, respectfully, and prior depressive symptoms (Figure 1).

The current study utilizes 4 waves (2 youth, 2 emerging adulthood) of longitudinal data from the Drug Use and Cultural Factors Among Hispanic Adolescents and Emerging Adults dataset. A subsample of 1,692 Latinx individuals was utilized, however, those with complete data on scales of interest, such as acculturative stress, perceived discrimination, familism, family cohesion, ethnic/racial identity (ERI), and depressive symptoms were included.

Preliminary analyses revealed significant relationships between acculturative stress, discrimination, family cohesion, and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to assess moderating variables. Results indicate that ethnic identity moderates the relationship between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms at wave 3 (Table 1). Further, multiple moderated mediation path analyses were conducted to assess relationships among study variables leading to depressive symptoms to wave 7. For these analyses, model fit was optimal where familism is a moderator: χ2 (158) = 14.04, df = 17, p = 0.58, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = .05. Similar results were found where family cohesion is a moderator: χ2 (158) = 27.91, df = 17, p = 0.05, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = .07. Additionally, analyses indicated optimal fit where ERI is a moderator: χ2 (160) = 14.57, df = 17, p = .63, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = 0.04. The model assessing family cohesion as a moderator yielded significant findings, such that interaction between family cohesion and acculturative stress was associated with depressive symptoms at wave 3, (β = 0.18, p = 0.03).

The results suggest that family cohesion may potentially buffer the adverse effects of MRS, however, the converse was true for ethnic identity, such that those with higher ethnic identity had higher depressive symptoms when experiencing high levels of acculturative stress. Such findings have implications for the development of prevention and intervention initiatives and policies that are culturally responsive and consider familial factors and various dimensions of ethnic identity to promote positive psychological adjustment in the Latinx populations.

Authors

• Crystal Leanette Venegas, University of California - Los Angeles
  Presenting Author

• Meeta Banerjee, University of South Carolina
  Non-Presenting Author