Trajectories of acculturation, enculturation, and depressive symptoms: findings from a longitudinal study of Latinx adolescents in Los Angeles
Date
2024
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Abstract
Acculturation is conceptualized as a dynamic process of change over time within individuals, yet the bulk of the research on acculturation is conducted using cross-sectional, as opposed to longitudinal approaches. Although there is an emerging body of longitudinal work in this area, there are several factors that contribute to within and between-person variation in acculturation that have yet to be explored. Furthermore, research examining the extent to which change over time in acculturation is related to the rate of change in depressive symptoms is scant. This dissertation utilized a longitudinal data set examining acculturation and substance use among a sample of Latinx youth in Los Angeles, California. Survey data assessing cultural processes, stressors, and depressive symptoms was collected in-person and electronically between 2005 and 2018. Study 1 used growth curve modeling to examine the extent to which there was developmental change in acculturation during the period of adolescence and into early adulthood. The results revealed that there was significant change over time in acculturation and that to some extent change over time varied by the generational group. Study 2 examined how change over time in cultural processes (e.g., acculturation, enculturation, and ethnic identity) was related to changes in depressive symptoms and the extent to which these cultural processes moderated the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms. The results of study 2 elucidated the moderating effects of the rate of change in acculturation on the association between the rate of change in perceived discrimination and the rate of change in depressive symptoms. This study provides new insights for acculturation research regarding change over time in this construct and the importance of considering context when examining the effect of acculturation on depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the combined results of these studies have important implications for the interpretation of previous studies using proxy measures of acculturation that are discussed further in text. Recommendations for improving the mental health and well-being of Latinx youth are also discussed.
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Subject
depressive symptoms
growth curve modeling
perceived stress
enculturation
acculturation
perceived discrimination