The relationships of acculturation level, acculturative stress, and family processes with depressive symptoms and suicidality in Puerto Rican youth residing in the South Bronx

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the relationships between cultural factors, such as acculturation level and acculturative stress, family processes, and youth mental health, particularly depressive symptoms and suicidality, among Puerto Rican youth residing in the South Bronx (N = 591).; Acculturation level, adapted from the Cultural Life Style Inventory (CLSI), was measured using a 9- and 12-item scale for youth and adults, respectively (Mendoza, 1989). Acculturative stress, adapted from the Hispanic Stress Inventory (HSI), was measured using a 12- and 16-item scale for youth and adults, respectively (Cervantes, Padilla, and Salgado de Snyder, 1990). Parent-child relationship was measured using a 12-item scale and reported by youth. Parental warmth/acceptance was measured using a 13-item scale and reported by adults. Parental monitoring was measured using an 11- and 12-item scale for youth and adults, respectively. Depressive symptoms were measured using youth reported DSM-IV symptom count for major depressive disorder, as measured by the DISC-IV. Suicidality was measured using items relating to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts from the DISC-IV. Analyses suggest that the measures of acculturation level and acculturative stress have adequate reliability and validity. Although less acculturated youth experienced more depressive symptoms, it was mediated by youth acculturative stress. Youth acculturative stress, rather than youth acculturation level, was found to be the cultural-specific predictor more closely related depressive symptoms. Greater youth acculturative stress was associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms and suicidality. Less parental warmth/acceptance and poor parent-child relationship were related to increased levels of depressive symptoms through their relationship with youth acculturative stress. Less parental warmth/acceptance, poor parent-child relationship and less parental monitoring were associated with greater youth acculturative stress. Furthermore, a greater degree of parental warmth/acceptance was protective only for younger youth. Finally, parent cultural factors, specifically acculturative stress, seem to affect offspring, as parents' own acculturative stress may lead to increased levels of acculturative stress and depressive symptoms in the child.