Abstract
There is evidence to suggest that Latino day laborers experience higher levels of acculturative stress than Latinos in employment
sectors in the US. Given the stress-buffering role that social support plays in minimizing the negative physical and mental
health outcomes of stress, this study examined this relationship in a sample of 70 Latino Day laborers in the northern San
Diego area (100% male, mean age = 27.7, SD = 9.1). Results from multivariate regression analyses showed that there was a significant
interaction effect between social support and acculturative stress (P = 0.025) on physical health, indicating that higher levels of social support buffered the negative effects of acculturative
stress on physical health. Acculturative stress and social support were not associated with mental health status. Overall,
these findings suggest that fostering social support may be an essential strategy for promoting health among Latino male day
laborers.
sectors in the US. Given the stress-buffering role that social support plays in minimizing the negative physical and mental
health outcomes of stress, this study examined this relationship in a sample of 70 Latino Day laborers in the northern San
Diego area (100% male, mean age = 27.7, SD = 9.1). Results from multivariate regression analyses showed that there was a significant
interaction effect between social support and acculturative stress (P = 0.025) on physical health, indicating that higher levels of social support buffered the negative effects of acculturative
stress on physical health. Acculturative stress and social support were not associated with mental health status. Overall,
these findings suggest that fostering social support may be an essential strategy for promoting health among Latino male day
laborers.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9568-0
- Authors
- Hugo Salgado, Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Global Health), San Diego State/University of California, San Diego CA, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182-4162, USA
- Sheila F. Castañeda, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Gregory A. Talavera, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Suzanne P. Lindsay, Institute for Public Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 6505 Alvarado Road, Suite 115, San Diego, CA, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912