A typology of acculturative stress among adult Latino/a immigrants: the role of demographic, social, and acculturation-related factors.

Latino/a immigrants evidence a relative health advantage compared to US-born counterparts, a trend that dissipates as they navigate a myriad of challenges tied to the immigration and adaptation process known as acculturative stressors. Recognizing the vast heterogeneity situated within the Latino/a immigrant population, experiences of acculturative stress differ among immigrant groups based on a range of demographic, social, and migration-related factors.In a sample of adult immigrants (ages 18-44; N = 391) residing in an emerging immigrant community, we conducted a cluster analysis to identify classes of respondents (i.e. 'clusters of acculturative stressors') and evaluated differences among these clusters across demographic, social support, and acculturation level variables.Results revealed that participants fell into one of three clusters: (a) high in family and systemic acculturative stress; (b) high in marital and parental stress; or (c) low in acculturative stress in general. Participants in the first group tended to be unauthorized immigrants, thereby facing more acculturative stress. Participants in the third group tended to have higher English proficiency, education, income, health insurance, and emotional and instrumental support, highlighting the buffering impact of residing within positive social contexts.These findings underscore the need for interventions that could be tailored to distinct subgroups of immigrants such as those which could increase familial and social connectedness and support, especially for those who are isolated and marginalized (cluster 1) as well as those experiencing familial and parenting stress (cluster 2). For those who endure comparatively less acculturative stress (cluster 3), low-touch interventions that maintain resilience may be important to maintain the wellbeing of this subset of immigrants. Together, these strategies have the potential to improve the health of this population and thereby reduce inequities.

Duke Scholars

Author Irene Crabtree Felsman School of Nursing

Author Scott de Marchi Political Science

Author Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda School of Nursing