Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among Young Adult Hispanic Immigrants: Moderating and Mediating Effects of Distinct Facets of Acculturation Stress

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2022 Mar;43(3):209-219. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2021.1972190. Epub 2021 Sep 15.

Abstract

Hispanic immigrants experience more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depressive symptom chronicity/severity than non-Hispanic peers. Acculturation stress relates to both depressive symptoms and ACEs, but the mechanism is not well-understood. We conducted a secondary data analysis of baseline data, from an ongoing longitudinal study to test theoretically-based mediating and moderating effects of acculturation stress on the relationship between ACEs and depression in a sample of young adult Hispanic immigrants (N = 391). Results indicated ACEs predicted depressive symptoms. Mediation and moderation effects were significant for cumulative and distinct facets of acculturation stress. Implications for mental health nurses are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Young Adult