Cultural Stressors and Depressive Symptoms in Latino/a Adolescents: An Integrative Review.
Allison L McCord, Claire Burke Draucker, Silvia Bigatti
PMID 29862864WHAT IT FOUND
All 33 reviewed studies found that cultural stressors like discrimination and family value conflicts are significantly linked to depressive symptoms in Latino/a adolescents.
Clinicians should actively ask about these specific experiences rather than treating depression in isolation.
Key findings
01Discrimination was examined in 26 of the 33 studies, and every single one found a significant positive association with depressive symptoms.
02Family culture conflict was linked to depressive symptoms in 10 of the 11 studies that examined it, though the strength of the link varied by gender.
03Acculturative stress, bicultural stress, intragroup rejection, immigration stress, and negative context of reception were also all associated with higher depressive symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The studies included in the review used inconsistent definitions and varied instruments to measure the same cultural stressors, making it difficult to compare effect sizes or determine which specific aspects of stress are most harmful. Many of the included studies relied on data from longitudinal projects conducted in the early 2000s, which may not capture current stressors related to the modern political climate, internet use, or recent immigration policies. The review notes that acculturative stress and bicultural stress were often used interchangeably or measured with overlapping tools, blurring the distinction between these concepts.
Declared interests
The authors report no potential or actual conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a reduction in depressive symptoms proves that removing the cultural stressor was the sole cause, as the review found associations rather than testing interventions. Additionally, the strength of evidence varies significantly by stressor type, with discrimination having much stronger support than immigration stress or context of reception.