The importance of addressing acculturative stress in marital therapy with Hispanic immigrant women

    Authors

    C. Negy; M. E. Hammons; A. Reig-Ferrer;T. M. Carper

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Int. J. Clin. Health Psychol.

    Keywords

    Acculturative stress; Marital therapy; Marital distress; Hispanic; immigrants women; Survey descriptive study; SOCIAL SUPPORT; COLLEGE-STUDENTS; DEPRESSION; MARRIAGE; SCALE; PSYCHOTHERAPY; ADJUSTMENT; PSYCHOLOGY; INVENTORY; DISTRESS; Psychology, Clinical

    Abstract

    In this study, we examined the relation between acculturative stress and marital distress among Hispanic immigrant women (N = 95) from the community and explored the role of other variables believed to be important to marital functioning generally, and among immigrants, specifically (e.g., acculturation, ethnic identity, social support, etc.). Consistent with transactional theory of stress, increases in acculturative stress were associated significantly with higher levels of marital distress. A stepwise regression analysis indicated that, among study variables, only acculturative stress and social support contributed significantly to the prediction of marital distress. A mediational analysis indicated that social Support partially mediated the effects of acculturative stress on marital distress. Overall, results suggest that although social support seems to reduce both acculturative stress and marital distress, acculturative stress appears to be linked independently with marital distress. The importance of mental health professionals to address acculturative stress with Hispanic women or couples in marital therapy is discussed.

    Journal Title

    International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology

    Volume

    10

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    5

    Last Page

    21

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000272522900001

    ISSN

    1697-2600

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