Latino/a Acculturation, Smoking, and Depression: Towards the Development of Integrative Socio-cultural Models.

The majority of U.S. Latino/as are immigrants or children of immigrants and experience cultural, social, and psychological changes as they navigate the U.S. cultural context. This acculturation process has been linked with depression and smoking risk, especially among Latina women. Depression and smoking can have debilitating consequences, they often co-occur, and link with stress. Thus, it is vital to understand the acculturation process and why it puts Latino/as at risk for mental health and substance use problems. Organized around two studies, this dissertation provides a novel and real-world understanding of Latino/a acculturation. It builds on extant research to develop and test holistic models of acculturation, smoking and depression. It also brings a unique gendered lens to the study of Latino/a acculturation as it is one of the first to empirically examine if and how acculturation-related experiences (discrimination, family conflict, familismo, and family cohesion) differ for Latinos and Latinas. By focusing on depression and smoking, this dissertation identifies similarities and differences in pathways to depression and smoking, informing more sensitive ways to not only reduce depression but also smoking. Data came from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), a national household survey that included 2,554 U.S. Latino/as (48% female; mean age = 38.02 years). Study 1 took a person-centered approach to the study of Latino/a acculturation, smoking, and depression. It showed that with acculturation, more women than men experience both problematic family lives and discrimination. For men, acculturation came mainly with elevated experiences of discrimination and not necessarily family conflict. Study 2 took a process-oriented approach to investigate pathways from acculturation to depression and smoking, separately for men and women. Results revealed that men and women have more similar than different acculturation-related experiences but women experience greater changes in the family domain, possibly putting them at greater risk for depression. Findings indicate that Latina/o women and men can benefit from prevention and intervention efforts that combat discrimination against Latino/as, help Latino/as cope with discrimination, and strengthen positive family relationships. It discusses how findings can inform gender- and culture-specific strategies to reduce Latino/a smoking and depression.PHDPsychology and Women's StudiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/100004/1/elmalb_1.pd

Latino/a Depression and Smoking: An Analysis Through the Lenses of Culture, Gender, and Ethnicity

Rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) and cigarette smoking increase with Latino/a acculturation, but this varies by gender and ethnic subgroup. We investigated how lived experiences (i.e., discrimination, family conflict, family cohesion, familismo) clustered together in the everyday lives of Latina/os. We further examined associations of cluster profile and Latino/a subgroup with MDD and smoking, and tested whether gender moderated these associations. Data came from the National Latino Asian American Study, which included 2,554 Latino/as (48 % female; mean age = 38.02 years). K‐means cluster analysis revealed six profiles of experience, which varied by gender and socio‐cultural characteristics. Proportionately more women than men were in groups with problematic family lives. Acculturated Latino/as were disproportionately represented in profiles reporting frequent discrimination, family conflict, and a lack of shared family values and cohesion. Profiles characterized by high discrimination and family problems also predicted elevated risk for MDD and smoking. Findings suggest that Latino/a acculturation comes jointly with increased discrimination, increased family conflict, and reduced family cohesion and shared family values, exacerbating risk for MDD and smoking. This research on pathways to depression and smoking can inform the development of targeted assessment, prevention, and intervention strategies, tailored to the needs of Latino/as.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117144/1/ajcp9553.pd

Parenting, Family Processes, Relationships, and Parental Support in Multiracial and Multiethnic Families: An Exploratory Study of Youth Perceptions

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96382/1/fare751.pd

Biculturalism Dynamics: A Daily Diary Study of Bicultural Identity and Psychosocial Functioning

We examined two conceptualizations of bicultural identity – the Bicultural Identity Integration (BII) framework (cultural identity blendedness-distance and harmony-conflict) and cultural hybridizing and alternating (mixing one’s two cultural identities and/or switching between them). Utilizing data from a 12-day diary study with 873 Hispanic college students, we examined three research questions: (1) cross-sectional and longitudinal intercorrelations among these biculturalism components, (2) links among daily variability in these biculturalism components, and (3) how this daily variability predicts well-being and mental health outcomes over time. Bicultural hybridizing was positively related to, and longitudinally predicted by, both BII blendedness and harmony. Daily fluctuation scores for BII blendedness, BII harmony, and bicultural hybridizing were strongly interrelated. Well-being was negatively predicted by fluctuations in hybridizing, whereas internalizing symptoms were positively predicted by fluctuations in blendedness. These results are discussed in terms of what biculturalism is and how best to promote it

Testing the Parentâ Adolescent Acculturation Discrepancy Hypothesis: A Fiveâ Wave Longitudinal Study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134121/1/jora12214.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134121/2/jora12214_am.pd

Longitudinal Trajectories of Family Functioning Among Recent Immigrant Adolescents and Parents: Links With Adolescent and Parent Cultural Stress, Emotional Wellâ Being, and Behavioral Health

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148234/1/cdev12914.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148234/2/cdev12914_am.pd

Identity Development in Immigrant Youth A Multilevel Contextual Perspective

Rates of immigration are at an all-time high in many Western countries, and immigration can exert profound influences on identity development. These influences occur both at the individual level and at the group level, but these two sets of influences have rarely been considered simultaneously. Accordingly, this article adopts a multilevel approach to identity development among immigrant youth, with a focus on North American receiving contexts. We focus not only on individual ethnic, national, and personal identity development, but also on the societal-level intergroup processes (e.g., threats and stereotypes) that constrain the identity options available to immigrants. We highlight the prominence of biculturalism - endorsement of both heritage and destination-country identities - but also discuss ways in which biculturalism may be difficult to attain for some immigrants and immigrant groups. We also emphasize the interplay between individual immigrants' identities and the mechanisms through which defensive policies enacted by "threatened" majority groups may harm identity development among immigrant youth. The article concludes with a listing of priorities for future work

Cultural Stress, Emotional well-being, and Health Risk Behaviors among Recent Immigrant Latinx families: The Moderating Role of Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics

Latinx families can experience cultural stressors, which can negatively influence their emotional and behavioral health. Few studies have examined if perceived neighborhood characteristics buffer against or exacerbate the negative effects of cultural stress on adolescent and parent health outcomes. To address this gap in the literature, this study investigated how parent (social cohesion, informal social control, extent of problems) and adolescent (support) perceived neighborhood factors moderated the associations of parent and adolescent cultural stress with parent and adolescent emotional and behavioral well-being. Data came from waves 1 and 3 of a six-wave longitudinal survey with 302 recent immigrant Latinx adolescents (47% female, Mage = 14.51 years) and their parents (74% mothers, Mage = 41.09 years). Results indicated that when parents reported low levels of neighborhood problems, adolescent cultural stress did not predict adolescent health risk behaviors. However, adolescent and parent cultural stress predicted higher levels of adolescents' sense of hope when parents perceived low levels of neighborhood problems. Furthermore, adolescent and parent cultural stress predicted higher youth depressive symptoms and health risk behaviors when positive neighborhood factors (informal social control, social cohesion) were high. Similarly, adolescent and parent cultural stress predicted lower adolescents' sense of hope and self-esteem when positive neighborhood factors were high. These findings indicate that efforts to reduce the negative effects of cultural stress on youth emotional and behavioral health may benefit from combating neighborhood problems. Results further indicate that research is needed to clarify unexpected findings. Directions for future research are discussed