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Journal of youth and adolescence
01, 2017;46 (1): 63-77.

Associations between Cultural Stressors, Cultural Values, and Latina/o College Students' Mental Health.

Rosalie Corona, Vivian M Rodríguez, Shelby E McDonald, Efren Velazquez, Adriana Rodríguez, Vanessa E Fuentes
Author Information
  1. Rosalie Corona: Department of Psychology Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA. racorona@vcu.edu.
  2. Vivian M Rodríguez: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA.
  3. Shelby E McDonald: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 Floyd Avenue, Third Floor, P.O. Box 842027, Richmond, VA, 23284-2027, USA.
  4. Efren Velazquez: Department of Psychology Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
  5. Adriana Rodríguez: Department of Psychology Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
  6. Vanessa E Fuentes: Department of Psychology Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
PMID: 27817098 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-016-0600-5

Abstract

Latina/o college students experience cultural stressors that negatively impact their mental health, which places them at risk for academic problems. We explored whether cultural values buffer the negative effect of cultural stressors on mental health symptoms in a sample of 198 Latina/o college students (70 % female; 43 % first generation college students). Bivariate results revealed significant positive associations between cultural stressors (i.e., acculturative stress, discrimination) and mental health symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depressive, psychological stress), and negative associations between cultural values of familismo, respeto, and religiosity and mental health symptoms. Several cultural values moderated the influence of cultural stressors on mental health symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of helping Latina/o college students remain connected to their families and cultural values as a way of promoting their mental health.

Keywords

Cultural stressors Cultural values Latina/o young adults Mental health

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Grants

  1. T32 CA009461/NCI NIH HHS
  2. P30 CA008748/NCI NIH HHS

MeSH Term

Acculturation
Adolescent
Cultural Characteristics
Female
Hispanic or Latino
Humans
Mental Health
Social Values
Students
United States
Young Adult
Journal Article

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