Acculturative stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among Latino migrants.

This dissertation examined the relationship between acculturative stress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in a sample of migrant Mexican-American and Central American adults. Also examined were variables that may act as buffers of acculturative stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. Subjects were 145 female and 56 male students from an English as Second Language program in a southern California community adult school. Anonymous self-report measures employed include a background information form; the Family Assessment Device; the Personal Resource Questionnaire-Part 2; the SAFE acculturative stress measure; the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire; questions assessing perception of control and choice in the decision to migrate; and an open-ended question measuring attitudes and expectations toward the future. Acculturative stress was significantly correlated with depression and suicidal ideation. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived family dysfunction and nonpositive expectations for the future were significant predictors of acculturative stress; that ethnicity, nonpositive expectations for the future, and high levels of acculturative stress were significant predictors of depression; and that nonpositive expectations for the future and low levels of perceived influence of religion were significant predictors of suicidal ideation. The multiple regression equation for acculturative stress accounted for 11% of the variance in acculturative stress; the multiple regression equation for depression accounted for 42% of the variance in depression; and the multiple regression equation for suicidal ideation accounted for 22% of the variance in suicidal ideation. The overall findings suggest that those acculturating Latino adults who experience elevated levels of acculturative stress may be at risk for experiencing critical levels of depression and suicidal ideation. The findings highlight the importance of assessing and treating the depression and suicidal ideation for acculturating individuals using culturally relevant clinical methods.Ph.D.Clinical psychologyEthnic studiesHealth and Environmental SciencesPsychologyPublic healthSocial SciencesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/130734/2/9811099.pd