Differences in Acculturation and Trajectories of Anxiety and Alcohol Consumption Among Latina Mothers and Daughters in South Florida

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health 2016-08, Vol.18 (4), p.886-895
• Main Authors: Concha, Maritza, Sanchez, Mariana, Rojas, Patria, Villar, Maria Elena, De La Rosa, Mario
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adaptation; Adult; Adult Children - ethnology; Adult daughters; Age differences; Alcohol Drinking - ethnology; Alcohol Education; Alcohol related; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcohols; American culture; Anxiety; Anxiety - ethnology; Beliefs; Comparative Law; Consumption; Cultural Context; Cultural factors; Cultural identity; Culture; Daughters; Drinking; Drug use; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Employment; Families & family life; Female; Females; Florida - epidemiology; Generational differences; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic or Latino - psychology; Host country; Humans; Immigrants; Individual therapy; International & Foreign Law; Interpersonal Relations; Latin American cultural groups; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental Health and Substance Use; Middle Aged; Minority Groups; Mother-Child Relations - psychology; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Noncitizens; Original Paper; Private International Law; Public Health; Self Report; Social Support Groups; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociology; Spouses - ethnology; Statistical analysis; Stress; Substance abuse; Substance use; Support groups; Women
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0277-y

This study documents generational differences in the impact of acculturation related factors on anxiety and alcohol use behaviors between adult Latino mothers and adult daughters. Findings indicate that for mothers (n = 144) and daughters (n = 149), self-reported anxiety levels decreased from baseline to follow up (p = 0.001). For mothers at follow up (n = 147), results indicate that affiliation to Latino culture is negatively associated with anxiety (p = 0.018). Conversely, employment and partner relationship stress are positively associated with anxiety (p = 0.05 and p = 0.016 respectively). In addition, self-reported anxiety is positively associated with alcohol intake (p = 0.002) and employment (p = 0.007). For daughters (n = 149), partner relationship stressors, anxiety and alcohol intake decreased significantly from baseline to follow up at a p = 0.01, p = 0.01, p = 0.05 respectively. In addition, for daughters at baseline (n = 160), affiliation to U.S. culture is positively associated with self-reported anxiety (p = 0.01). Employment is negatively associated with alcohol consumption (p = 0.027). At follow up (n = 152), daughters’ partner relationship stress is positively associated with self-reported anxiety (p = 0.049). Findings in this study can be used to develop culturally appropriate interventions, support groups and individual therapy sessions by taking into consideration generational differences among Latino women.