Bicultural Stress Research Articles

Bicultural Stress and Adolescent Risk Behaviors in a Community Sample of Latinos and Non-Latino European Americans

Objectives . The study examined the relation between adolescent risk behaviors and bicultural stress due to discrimination, immigration, and acculturation factors. We hypothesized bicultural stress would be related to increased risk behavior and depressive symptoms independent of socioeconomic status, ethnic self-identification, and acculturation. Design . Middle school student participants (n=519; median age 14) completed a self-report questionnaire on their risk behaviors, psychosocial antecedents, and socio-demographic factors. Latino (304) and non-Latino European American (215) students were surveyed through a large, urban, West Coast US school district. Results . More bicultural stress was significantly related to reports of all risk behaviors (i.e. smoking, drinking, drug use, and violence) and depressive symptoms. Further, bicultural stress was a robust explanatory variable across sub-groups, and appears largely independent from depressive symptoms. Conclusion . The hypotheses were supported. Bicultural stress appears to be an important underlying factor for health disparities among US adolescents. Future research may consider promoting well-being in majority, as well as minority adolescents, through targeting sources of bicultural stressors or examining ways to moderate their effects on adolescent risk behaviors.

Adolescent bicultural stress and its impact on mental well‐being among Latinos, Asian Americans, and European Americans

AbstractThe perception of bicultural stress, stress due to discrimination/prejudice, immigration, and acculturation, was investigated in relation to mental well‐being in a sample of urban Latino (n = 304), European American (n = 215), and Asian American (n = 131) 8th grade students. Bicultural stress was reported by all ethnic groups and was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms and less optimism (only for females), after accounting for ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and age. Latino and Asian American youth were more likely to report more stressors, although after controlling for sociodemographic variables the differences predominantly remained only between Asian Americans and European Americans. Lower socioeconomic status, male gender, and not speaking English also were associated with more stress. The negative impact of bicultural stress on adolescent depressive symptoms and optimism indicates the need for mental health researchers and service providers to consider the cultural context of stress for adolescents. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 519–534, 2007.

Bicultural Stress: An Aboriginal Community Perspective

A survey was designed to assess and to compare the levels of stress being experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal respondents. The survey covered a range of areas including demographics, access to transport, drug and alcohol use, use of public services, identification of stressful events in the past 12 months and a self evaluation of stress symptoms. The groups were matched by age, sex and income. The results showed differences between the stressful events and stress symptoms reported by the two groups, with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander group reporting considerably higher levels. There were significant differences in access to transport and use of public health facilities. The barriers to the use of public health services were identified. A major finding was that 69% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample experienced more than one loss through death compared to 5% of the non-Aboriginal sample in the previous 12 months. It was concluded that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample experienced more stressful events, had more stress related symptoms and used public mental health services less than the non-Aboriginal sample. The barriers to use of services were a lack of cultural sensitivity and the discomfort experienced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample when accessing services. A partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is required to develop a public health service that is acceptable and useful to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample.

Bonding and supportive relationships among black professional women: Rituals of restoration

AbstractIn two‐day assessment workshops 71 black professional women explored the kinds of supportive relationships they have formed with significant black women friends and the consequences of these supportive relationships for their growth and development.Findings show two major types of supportive relationships: (1) other‐oriented relationships, in which participants' bonds with other black women emphasize the provision of support to the other, and (2) self‐enhancing relationships, in which participants' bonds with other black women are reciprocal in nature or are oriented toward self. Within these two types of relationships, three main functions of support were found: (1) social companionship, (2) task help, and (3) supportiveness. Of these three functions, the receipt of supportiveness consisting of emotional support, high commitment to one another, and encouragement to tackle life's obstacles resulted in the highest levels of growth and development among the participants, thus most effectively validating and addressing their experience of bicultural stress.