Puerto Rican-Born Women In The United States: Contextual Approach To Immigration Challenges

Keywords

Acculturation; Acculturative stress; Contextual approach; Latina immigrants; Puerto Rican women

Abstract

This study focused on how acculturative stress and psychological distress affect Puerto Rican-born women residing in the United States. Mediation path analysis was used to estimate relationships between contextual factors, acculturative stress, and psychological distress. The fit of the data to the final model was adequate as estimated using chi-square analysis, comparative fit index, Tucker-Lewis Index, and root-mean-square error of approximation. Racial discrimination (b = 0.38, p = .01), difficulties visiting family abroad (b = 0.26, p = .03), and age at immigration (b = 0.19, p = .03) were positively associated with acculturative stress. The factor English skills (b =-0.31, p = .02) was negatively associated with acculturative stress. Racial discrimination had the strongest effect on acculturative stress, followed by English skills, difficulties visiting family abroad, and age at immigration. Racial discrimination (b = 0.39, p = .01) and financial constraints (b = 0.30, p = .01) were positively associated with psychological distress. Racial discrimination affected the women's psychological distress the most, followed by economic contexts (financial constraints). This study informs practitioners in considering the significant contextual factors relevant to the psychological distress of Puerto Rican-born women.

Publication Date

11-1-2015

Publication Title

Health and Social Work

Volume

40

Issue

4

Number of Pages

298-306

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlv070

Socpus ID

84948414278 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84948414278

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