Stress and Health Outcomes in Midwestern Latinx Youth: The Moderating Role of Ethnic Pride

Blake L Jones; Matthew K Grendell; Joshua M Bezzant; Keeley A Russell; Brooke W Williams; Lainey Jensen; Carli Peterson; Joshua Christensen; Brynn Pyper; Jaren Muh; Zoe E Taylor

doi:10.3390/ijerph192416966

Stress and Health Outcomes in Midwestern Latinx Youth: The Moderating Role of Ethnic Pride

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 17;19(24):16966. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416966.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1092 KMBL, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
² Department of Human Development and Family Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

Abstract

Background: Stress has been linked to numerous health outcomes, including internalizing and externalizing behaviors, self-esteem, and physical health. Culture has also been linked to stress and health. This study examined the links between stress and health, and the potential moderating role of Latinx ethnic pride (LEP).

Methods: The sample consisted of 119 Latinx youth from the Midwestern U.S. Mothers and youth completed surveys. Variables included the Multicultural Events Scale for Adolescents (MESA), parent and home stressors/risks (PHSR), LEP, depressive symptoms, aggression, frustration, and self-esteem. Research assistants measured child heights and weights and calculated BMI percentiles.

Results: LEP was negatively related to MESA, depressive symptoms, aggression, and frustration, and positively related to self-esteem. MESA and PHSR were associated with depressive symptoms, aggression, frustration, and self-esteem, but not with BMI percentile. In adjusted regression analyses, LEP moderated the effects MESA had on frustration and self-esteem, marginally moderated the link between MESA and depressive symptoms, and was not related to aggression or BMI percentile. LEP did not moderate the relationship between PHSR with any health outcomes.

Conclusions: Stressors were generally related to child mental health. LEP may play an important role in protecting against some of the effects of stressful events on mental health outcomes.

Keywords: Latinx; children; culture; depressive symptoms; ethnic pride; externalizing behaviors; family; obesity; self-esteem; stressful events.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Depression / psychology
Emotions*
Female
Hispanic or Latino / psychology
Humans
Mothers* / psychology
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Self Concept
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: this work was supported by Purdue University start-up funds to Jones and Taylor, as well as the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project (1013708); as well as awards from the Purdue Research Foundation, the Center for Families at Purdue University, and the Ingestive Behavior Research Center at Purdue University.