Marianismo Beliefs, Ethnic Identity Commitment, and Acculturative Stress Among Recent Latina Young Adult Immigrant

Because young adult, Latina/o immigrants encompass a rapidly growing minority group in the U.S., there is need for empirical literature focusing on their mental health and the ways in which it relates with identity and culture. The primary aim of the present study was to examine the relations among dimensions of marianismo beliefs and indices of acculturative stress as moderated by ethnic identity commitment among recent Latina young adult immigrants.;The sample consisted of 530 Latina women in Miami, Florida (time in US: M = 11.5 months; SD = 9.94; Ages: 18--23 years ( M = 20.82, SD = 1.88). Measures included the Marianismo Beliefs Scale (MBS; Castillo et al., 2010), the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM; Phinney, 1992), the Revised Acculturative Stress Scale Total Scale (SAFE-R; Mena et al., 1987), the Revised Hispanic Stress Inventory Frequency and Appraisal Scales (HSI-R; Cervantes et al., 2012), and the Caetano Acculturation Stress Total Scale (Caetano et al., 2007).;Four hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed- one for each indicator of acculturative stress. The overall set of predictors was significantly related to acculturative stress when controlling for covariates and accounted for 41.6%, 7.5%, 24.5%, and 43.3% of the variability in SAFE-R, Caetano Acculturation Stress Scale, and HSI-R Frequency and Appraisal Subscale scores, respectively.;For this sample, endorsing more family pillar marianismo beliefs was correlated with higher levels of acculturative stress on most indices. Endorsing more subordinate/silencing self marianismo beliefs was linked to lower levels of acculturative stress on all indices. Endorsing more spiritual pillar marianismo beliefs was correlated with lower levels of acculturative stress on one indicator. Endorsement of higher levels of ethnic identity commitment corresponded to higher levels of acculturative stress on most indices.;Participants who endorsed less subordinate/silencing self marianismo beliefs reported more acculturative stress on most indices, especially when they reported stronger commitment to their ethnic identity. Higher levels of ethnic identity commitment served as a protective factor against acculturative stress for participants who endorsed less family pillar marianismo beliefs and acted as a risk factor for those who endorsed more family pillar marianismo beliefs.;Clinical and research implications are discussed.