EVERYDAY DISCRIMINATION, FAMILY CONTEXT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG LATINO ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES. Issue 2 (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Molina, Kristine M.; Little, Tariana V.; Rosal, Milagros C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of community psychology. Volume 44:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 145
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; Social psychiatry -- Periodicals; Community Mental Health Services -- Periodicals; 362.2205
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.21747
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0090-4392

Abstract

Abstract : Research suggests that experiences of discrimination can threaten the viabilities of families, which may subsequently affect an individual's mental health. Our study tests the hypotheses that (a) everyday discrimination will be indirectly associated with psychological distress through family cultural conflict and lower family cohesion among Latinos and (b) gender will moderate these relations. The sample included Latinos ( N = 2, 554) from the National Latino and Asian American Study. Path analysis revealed that among the total sample, greater exposure to everyday discrimination was associated with higher levels of family cultural conflict and, in turn, increased psychological distress. Multiple‐group path analysis revealed no effect modification by gender. Results underscore the need to consider sociocontextual mechanisms through which discrimination (a) may impinge on the mental health of Latinos and (b) may have implications for the development of mental health interventions that are culturally informed, thus needing to take into consideration family functioning and the role of contextual factors such as discrimination.