•  
  •  
 

Faculty Advisor

Antonio Polo

Abstract

Acculturative stress is a significant psychological challenge faced by Latinx youth as they navigate cultural adaptation, often leading to negative mental health outcomes. Research has shown that acculturative stress is positively associated with major depression, anxiety, and high-risk behaviors, including delinquency and impulse control problems (Lerias et al., 2024). This study examines the role of maternal attachment as a mediator in the relation between acculturative stress and both depressive symptoms and externalizing problems among Latinx youth. The sample consisted of 281 Latinx students (ages 10-14, M = 11.4, SD = 0.95) from several Chicago Public Schools. Results indicate that acculturative stress significantly predicts youth reports of depressive symptoms, with maternal attachment partially mediating this effect (b = 2.04, 95% CI [1.13, 3.15]). However, no significant mediation was found for parent reports of externalizing behaviors (b = -0.22, 95% CI [-1.07, 0.61]). These findings underline the impact of acculturative stress on parent-child relationships and its psychological effects on the mental health of Latinx youth. The results emphasize the need for involvement of parents in programs targeting depression, anxiety, and other internalizing symptoms.

Download

Share

COinS