Acculturative stress and mental health among economically disadvantaged Spanish-speaking Latinos in primary care: The role of anxiety sensitivity. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bakhshaie, Jafar; Hanna, Abigail E.; Viana, Andres G.; Garza, Monica; Valdivieso, Jeanette; Ochoa-Perez, Melissa; Lemaire, Chad; Cardoso, Jodi Berger; Rogers, Andrew H.; Mayorga, Nubia A.; Bogiaizian, Daniel; Zvolensky, Michael J.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 261(2018)
• Page Start: 421
• Page End: 427
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Acculturation -- Depression -- Anxious arousal -- Social anxiety -- Hispanics; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.01.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: The present study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity in the relation between acculturative stress and mood and anxiety symptoms and disorders among Latinos seeking health services at a primary healthcare facility. Participants included 142 adult Latinos (86.6% female, M age = 39.05 years, SD = 12.46%, and 96.3% reported Spanish as their first language). Results indicated that acculturative stress was indirectly related to the number of mood and anxiety disorders, anxious arousal, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms through anxiety sensitivity. The observed effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by gender, age, marital status, educational status, employment status, years living in the United States, and negative affectivity. Overall, the present findings suggest that there is merit in focusing further scientific attention on the interplay between acculturative stress and anxiety sensitivity to better understand and inform interventions to reduce anxiety/depressive vulnerability among Latinos in primary care. Highlights: Research on acculturative stress and anxiety sensitivity among Latinos is scarce. Acculturative stress is indirectly related to a number of mood/anxiety disorders. Findings may show the start of developing intervention strategies for Latinos. Further study on interventions might reduce vulnerability factors among Latinos.