256832 Measuring Gender Differences in Stress in Latina/o Adolescents

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Grace L. Reynolds, DPA , Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Richard Cervantes, PhD , Behavioral Assessment Inc., Beverly Hills, CA
Dennis G. Fisher, PhD , Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Dana Fagen, BA , Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Background: Family structure, traditional cultural norms and economic hardship have been found to be sources of stress for adolescents of Latino origin. These sources of stress may be moderated by gender. Methods: Data from the Hispanic Stress Inventory—Adolescent (HSI-A) version were analyzed to determine differences between girls and boys in a national sample of Latino/as (N = 1171). Data were collected from sites in Los Angeles, CA; Boston, MA; Miami, FL; and El Paso, TX; the majority of data were collected at schools from both immigrant and non-immigrant groups. The HSI-A consists of 8 subscales and a total score, with high scores meaning more stress. Results: There was no difference in mean age between the girls (M=14.77, SD=1.78) and boys (M=14.73, SD=1.8), t=0.43, NS. There were significant differences between mean total HSI-A scores between girls (M=1.29, SD=.33) and boys (M=1.22, SD=.35), t(1171)=3.20, p=.001; and on several of the subscales including the Family Economic Stress subscale, girls (M=1.39, SD=1.34), boys (M=1.27, SD=1.22), t(1171)=3.47, p=.005; the Acculturation Gap Stress subscale, girls (M=1.47, SD=1.42), boys (M=1.26, SD=1.22), t(1171) = 6.45, p <.0001; the Family, Drug & Legal Stress subscale, girls (M=1.44, SD=1.38), boys (M=1.30, SD=1.25), t(1171)=3.61, p=.0003; and the Family Immigration Stress, girls (M=1.28, SD=1.23), boys (M=1.16, SD=1.12), t(1171)=3.40, p=.0007). Girls reported stress associated with family while boys endorsed items related to school stress. Discussion: The HSI-A provides insights into stressors for Latino/a adolescents. These findings can assist schools and social services providers in assisting Latino/a adolescents navigate family and cultural stress.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand gender differences between Latino/a adolescent girls and boys stress as measured by the Hispanic Stress Inventory--Adolescent version. 2. Describe the eight subscales and total score componenets of the HSI-A and how each captures culturally relevant aspects of stress for Latino/a adolescent samples.

Keywords: Adolescents, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract author on the content I am responsible for because I am currently working on a confirmatory factor analysis of gender differences in the subscales of the Hispanic Stress Inventory--Adolescent version, to be submitted for peer-reviewed publication.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.