Abstract
The risk for depression increases as Hispanic youth acculturate to U.S. society. This association is stronger for Hispanic
girls than boys. To better understand the influence of culture and family on depressive symptoms, we tested a process-oriented
model of acculturation, cultural values, and family functioning. The data came from Project RED, which included 1,922 Hispanic
students (53 % girls; 86 % were 14 years old; and 84 % were U.S. born) from Southern California. We used data from 9th to
11th grade to test the influence of acculturation-related experiences on depressive symptoms over time. Multi-group structural
equation analysis suggested that both family conflict and cohesion were linked with depressive symptoms. Hispanic cultural
values were associated with family cohesion and conflict but the strength and direction of these relationships varied across
cultural values and gender. For girls and boys, familismo and respeto were associated with higher family cohesion and lower family conflict. Moreover, gender roles were linked with higher family
cohesion in girls but not in boys. These results indicate that improving family functioning will be beneficial for boys’ and
girls’ psychological well-being. This may be achieved by promoting familismo and respeto for boys and girls and by promoting traditional gender roles for girls.
girls than boys. To better understand the influence of culture and family on depressive symptoms, we tested a process-oriented
model of acculturation, cultural values, and family functioning. The data came from Project RED, which included 1,922 Hispanic
students (53 % girls; 86 % were 14 years old; and 84 % were U.S. born) from Southern California. We used data from 9th to
11th grade to test the influence of acculturation-related experiences on depressive symptoms over time. Multi-group structural
equation analysis suggested that both family conflict and cohesion were linked with depressive symptoms. Hispanic cultural
values were associated with family cohesion and conflict but the strength and direction of these relationships varied across
cultural values and gender. For girls and boys, familismo and respeto were associated with higher family cohesion and lower family conflict. Moreover, gender roles were linked with higher family
cohesion in girls but not in boys. These results indicate that improving family functioning will be beneficial for boys’ and
girls’ psychological well-being. This may be achieved by promoting familismo and respeto for boys and girls and by promoting traditional gender roles for girls.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-16
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9774-7
- Authors
- Elma I. Lorenzo-Blanco, Departments of Psychology and Women’s Studies, University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Jennifer B. Unger, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Alhambra, CA, USA
- Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Alhambra, CA, USA
- Anamara Ritt-Olson, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Alhambra, CA, USA
- Daniel Soto, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Alhambra, CA, USA
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891