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Acculturative Stress and Diminishing Family Cohesion Among Recent Latino Immigrants

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Abstract

This study investigates a theorized link between Latino immigrants’ experience of acculturative stress during their two initial years in the United States (US) and declines in family cohesion from pre- to post-immigration contexts. This retrospective cohort study included 405 adult participants. Baseline assessment occurred during participants’ first 12 months in the US. Follow-up assessment occurred during participants’ second year in the US. General linear mixed models were used to estimate change in family cohesion and sociocultural correlates of this change. Inverse associations were determined between acculturative stress during initial years in the US and declines in family cohesion from pre-immigration to post-immigration contexts. Participants with undocumented immigration status, those with lower education levels, and those without family in the US generally indicated lower family cohesion. Participants who experienced more acculturative stress and those without family in the US evidenced a greater decline in family cohesion. Results are promising in terms of implications for health services for recent Latino immigrants.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by award number P20MD002288 from the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS & Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., PCA 369, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Frank R. Dillon & Mario De La Rosa

  2. Behavioral Science Research Institute, Coral Gables, FL, USA

    Gladys E. Ibañez

Authors
  1. Frank R. Dillon
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  2. Mario De La Rosa
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  3. Gladys E. Ibañez
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Correspondence to Frank R. Dillon.

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Dillon, F.R., De La Rosa, M. & Ibañez, G.E. Acculturative Stress and Diminishing Family Cohesion Among Recent Latino Immigrants. J Immigrant Minority Health 15, 484–491 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9678-3

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