Longitudinal Changes Among Latino/a Immigrant Parental Acculturation and Extra-Familial Immigration-Related Stress. Issue 1 (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whitehead, Michael R.; Parra-Cardona, Rubén; Wampler, Richard; Bowles, Ryan; Klein, Sacha
• Is Part Of: Hispanic journal of behavioral sciences. Volume 42:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: acculturation -- immigration-related stress -- biculturalism -- parents; Hispanic Americans -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Hispanic Americans -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1177/0739986319900029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0739-9863

Abstract

Foreign-born Latino/a immigrants currently make up 12.9% of the total U.S. population. Latino/a immigrants continue to be exposed to widespread health and mental health care disparities. Scholarship focused on the needs of Latino/a immigrants continues to be characterized by multiple gaps. Latino/a immigrants and their families, particularly those with low family annual incomes, are exposed to multiple types of immigration-related stress. However, little is known about how immigration-related stress impacts couples. The objective of this investigation was to examine the interrelationship among acculturation and immigration-related stress as reported by a group of Latino/a immigrant parents who participated in a cultural adaptation parenting study. Data were provided by 78 two-parent families. The statistical approach consisted of latent growth curve analyses to examine rates of change over time. Findings indicated a potential protective role of biculturalism among Latino/a immigrant couples. Research, clinical, and policy implications are discussed.