Mexican-descent adolescent resilience through familismo in the context of intergeneration acculturation conflict on depressive symptoms.

Abstract

Mexican-descent adolescents have higher rates of depressive symptoms compared to those of other ethnic groups. One process that has been related to this mental health disparity is intergenerational acculturative conflict (IAC). Little is known about factors that may be protective when IAC occurs. One factor that may be protective is familismo. In the present study, we hypothesized that higher levels of familismo would be protective in that it would reduce depressive symptoms for those experiencing IAC. The sample included 524 Mexican descent adolescents (53.1% young women; mean age ϭ 16.23, SD ϭ 1.10, range ϭ 14 -20) from a high school in South Texas. A hierarchical linear regression was performed, and results indicated that higher levels of IAC are related to higher levels of depressive symptoms (b ϭ 2.67, p Ͻ .001) and higher levels of familismo values are related to lower levels of depressive symptoms (b ϭ Ϫ2.02, p ϭ .008). Additionally, familismo values moderated the relationship between IAC and depressive symptoms (b ϭ Ϫ1.79, p ϭ .012). Moderation results from this study show that higher levels of familismo values play a protective role in reducing the role of IAC on depressive symptoms among Mexicandescent adolescents. Even though IAC is present, familismo values may be key in preventing or reducing negative mental health outcomes, such as depressive symptoms, among Mexican-descent adolescents. What is the significance of this article for the general public?The study suggests that the traditional cultural value of familismo may protect against the association of intergenerational acculturative stress on depressive symptoms among Mexican-descent adolescents. This suggests that further understanding of this cultural process could prove to be fruitful in decreasing mental health disparities for Latinx youth, namely regarding depressive symptoms. Preventative options could be to provide Latinx families with information on mental health problems, as well as how parentchild relationships can significantly affect mental health. Also important is creating culturally competent mental health services and training mental health professionals about treatments that include adolescents and caregivers.

Understanding the Lived Experiences of Hispanic Sexual Minority Youth and their Parents

“…Familismo (familism) is a complex Hispanic cultural concept that emphasizes the prioritizing of family needs above individual ones, a culture expectation that may pressure youth to prioritize familial obligations above their own needs (e.g., concealing sexual orientation and/or gender identity; (Santisteban, Muir‐Malcolm, Mitrani, & Szapocznik, 2002). Research on familism and health disparities is limited and mixed; some research has found that increased levels of familism are protective for externalizing and internalizing problems in youth (Chiang et al., 2019; Kapke, Grace, Gerdes, & Lawton, 2017; Piña‐Watson, Gonzalez, & Manzo, 2019; Telzer, Gonzales, & Fuligni, 2014), whereas other research has found that familism in HSMY may interfere with the process of sexual orientation and/or gender identity disclosure in sexual minorities (Craig, Austin, Alessi, McInroy, & Keane, 2017; Gattamorta & Quidley‐Rodriguez, 2018).…”

Rural Hispanic Perceptions of Mental Health: A Qualitative Study

“…Indeed, the reliance on socialization and seeking support from both social and religious networks was a protective factor in our study. Familismo is often viewed as a protective factor in studies of mental health in Hispanics (Caplan, 2019; Corona et al, 2017; Piña-Watson et al, 2019). Familismo , a cultural value that emphasizes the role of the family, may provide an emotional support network that can extend beyond blood relatives and into other social connections (Flores et al, 2021).…”

Determinants of mental health outcomes among transgender Latinas: Minority stress and resilience processes.

“…Though these resilience factors are likely present among transgender Latinas, studies have not yet demonstrated whether these processes are also positively associated with mental health among this understudied community. However, familismo , a common cultural value among Latinx communities referring to the sense of obligation to provide instrumental support to the family and the strong feelings of loyalty, reciprocity, and solidarity among family members (Sabogal et al, 1987), has been found to be a protective factor against negative mental health outcomes for Latinx populations more generally (Ayón et al, 2010; Kapke et al, 2017; Piña-Watson et al, 2019).…”