Acculturation status, coping strategies, and depression among Latino adolescents

Background: Despite challenges associated with acculturation, recently immigrated Latino youth demonstrate lower rates of depressive symptoms than US born Latino youth. Acculturation to US mainstream culture may negatively affect the mental health of Latino youth. Purpose: To examine the mediating or moderating roles of coping on depression among Latino youth at varying acculturation stages. It was hypothesized that 1) coping strategies would be different for Latino youth based on acculturation stage and 2) Latino youth highly acculturated to US mainstream culture would report the lowest use of coping strategies. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used: 43 self-identified Latino youth ages 12-20 were recruited from a charter school and community- based clinic in an urban, Midwestern setting. The youth completed a 100-item Emotional Health survey, including 3 language-based measures of acculturation, 10 coping assessment items, and prevalence of depressive symptoms scale. Three categories of acculturation were created using language preference and length of time in the US (high, moderate, and low acculturation); data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Latino youth at different acculturation stages had significant differences in their reported use of coping strategies. Youth in the high acculturation category reported the highest degree of depression, and the fewest number of coping strategies. Conclusion: Degree of acculturation appears to associate with a Latino youth's selection of coping strategies. Further examination of acculturative processes, their influence on coping, and subsequent mental health outcomes is warranted so public health providers can optimally promote the health of Latino youth in the US.