Adapting for Well-Being: Examining Acculturation Strategies and Mental Health among Latina Immigrants

This study investigates how assimilation and integration, two commonly studied acculturation forms, help immigrant Latinas cope with acculturative stress and related psychological distress. It employs the Ecological Framework for Understanding Immigration (EFUI), merging Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social sciences (Basel) 2024-02, Vol.13 (3), p.138
Main Authors: Bekteshi, Venera, Bellamy, Jennifer L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acculturation
acculturation stress
Analysis
Assimilation
Community
Constraints
contextualization
Cultural identity
Cultural values
Culture
discrimination
Emigration and immigration
Employment
Health behavior
Health planning
Hispanic American women
Hispanic Americans
immigrant Latinas
Immigrants
Immigration
immigration challenges
Influence
Language
Latin American cultural groups
Mental health
Migration
Psychological aspects
Psychological distress
Race discrimination
Racial discrimination
Social exclusion
Social integration
Social networks
Social support
Socioeconomic factors
Stress
Stress (Psychology)
Stress management
System theory
Systems theory
Well being
Work environment
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Summary:This study investigates how assimilation and integration, two commonly studied acculturation forms, help immigrant Latinas cope with acculturative stress and related psychological distress. It employs the Ecological Framework for Understanding Immigration (EFUI), merging Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Socioecological Model as a comprehensive approach. Through multigroup analysis, various factors significantly affect the psychological distress of immigrant Latinas, including financial constraints, contentment with migration decisions, age, and adherence to familial values. Acculturative stress relates to English proficiency, racial discrimination experiences, U.S. residency duration, and contentment with the migration choice. The moderating effects of assimilation and integration vary, influencing psychological distress and acculturative stress differently in each group. In conclusion, this study uncovers complex coping mechanisms used by immigrant Latina individuals facing acculturative stress and highlights the protective role of assimilation, the importance of familismo, the impact of financial constraints, and the significance of racial discrimination. This finding underscores the need for mental health interventions to respect and incorporate Latinx individuals’ cultural values and beliefs, promoting positive mental health outcomes.
ISSN:2076-0760
2076-0760
DOI:10.3390/socsci13030138