Filial Responsibilities, Familism, and Depressive Symptoms Among Latino Young Adults

Abstract

The current study examined the relations among engagement in and perceived fairness of filial responsibilities on Latino young adults’ depressive symptoms and the moderating role of familism. A sample of 419 Latino young adults ( M age = 19.04 years, 70% female) of immigrant families reported on their filial responsibilities, familism, and depressive symptoms. Results demonstrated that perceived fairness was a stronger predictor of depressive symptoms than engagement in filial responsibilities. Next, familism attenuated the relationship between perceived fairness and depressive symptoms, but only among participants who highly endorsed familism. Furthermore, average and high levels of familism were associated with greater depressive symptoms when engaging in expressive caregiving. Findings support the influence of perceived fairness in the study of filial responsibilities and for children of Latino immigrant families, the nuanced influence of familism. These results have important programmatic implications that may promote the well-being of children of Latino immigrant families.