Predicting Levels of Latino Depression: Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, and Coping

Author: Lucas Torres, PhD

Background:
Past research has noted that aspects of living in the U.S. mainstream culture may place Latinos at risk for experiencing psychological problems (Alegria et al., 2007) and influence culturally-adequate treatment. However, the specific features of the adaptation process that contribute to depression remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the ability of acculturation, acculturative stress, and coping to predict membership into low, moderate, and extreme groups of depression among Latinos.

Method:
Participants consisted of 138 Latino adults (mean age = 39) primarily from first generation (59%) and Mexican backgrounds (83%). Participants were asked to complete a packet of surveys that included the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II), the Multidimensional Acculturative Stress Inventory (MASI), the Behavioral Attributes of Psychosocial Competence scale (BAPC), and the Center for Epidemiologic Survey - Depression Scale (CES-D).

Results:
Depression groups were created based on CES-D scores (low <16; moderate > 16; extreme > 24). A logistic regression revealed a good model fit (discrimination among groups) on the basis of demographic factors (generation level, age, years lived in the U.S.), acculturation (Anglo-and Latino-orientation subscales of ARSMA-II), acculturative stress, and proactive coping (BAPC), _2 (230, N=126) = 199.97, p = .92, (using deviance criterion), R2 = .41 (Nagelkerke). According to the Wald criterion, an Anglo Orientation (OR= 2.54, p<.05), English Competency pressures (OR = 2.33, p<.05), and proactive coping (OR=.67, p<.001) differentiated extreme from low depression. Latino orientation distinguished (OR=.27, p<.05) moderate from low depression.

Conclusions:
Latinos experiencing extensive depression were over two times more likely to incorporate U.S. customs and report stress communicating in English. The odds of experiencing significant depression decreased 33% with every unit increase of proactive coping. Based on this profile, culturally-effective treatment should involve caution when integrating U.S. ideals while strengthening communication and coping skills to buffer experiencing depressive symptomatology.

Alegria, M., Mulvaney-Day, N., Torres, M., Polo, A., Cao, Z., & Canino, G. (2007). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders across Latino subgroups in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 97, 68-75.