Acculturation stress and mental health among Latina immigrants

Public health social workers and other healthcare professionals increasingly provide services to Latina immigrants, a historically underserved population experiencing grave healthcare disparities. Culturally responsive services require greater understanding of psychosocial factors that may negatively affect their mental health, including acculturation stress. Latina immigrants experience myriad stressors associated with the acculturation process, which entails adjustments in person-environment fit. Despite the wealth of assets and strengths they bring, the multiple cultural differences and oppressive conditions they face may thwart their ability to cope effectively. We hypothesize that acculturation stress negatively affects the mental health and self-esteem of Latina immigrants.

This study used a cross-sectional research design to examine the relationship between acculturation stress and mental health in a sample (N=106) of community-dwelling Latina immigrants. Participants were recruited through referrals, flyers, churches, and community advocates. Most participants were of Mexican descent (76.4%), ages <35 (70.8%), low education (55.7% no high school degree), and income (49.1% <$0,000 per year). When given the option to complete a face-to-face interview in English or Spanish, 92.8% chose Spanish.

Logistic regression analyses indicate significant positive associations between acculturation stress and depression (.286), anxiety (.189), and nervous attack (.434). Acculturation stress was negatively associated with self-esteem (-.513). The findings underscore the need to identify risk and protective factors associated with acculturation stress, including coping preferences, when providing services to Latina immigrants. Further research in this line of inquiry is warranted. Advocacy framing immigrants' health needs as a social justice issue to mobilize political action is sorely needed.