Work-family interface on hazardous alcohol use and increased risk for prescription drug misuse among diverse working parents in STEM.

BACKGROUND: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) industries are competitive and can be stressful work environments leading to an increase in substance misuse. Little is known on the role of work-related risk and protective factors on substance misuse among working parents navigating multiple roles. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine work-life balance as a protective factor and various risk factors (emotional exhaustion, work-family, family-work conflicts) for hazardous alcohol use and increased risk for prescription drug misuse among diverse working parents in STEM. METHODS: Participants (n = 1,228) were recruited via Qualtrics from across the US and the sample was racially ethnic and gender (50% men, 50% women) diverse. An overall path analysis was conducted to explore direct and indirect effects of work-life balance on hazardous alcohol use and increased risk for prescription drug misuse. Path analyses explored the racial-ethnic and gender differences across the overall model. RESULTS: Path analysis revealed that healthy work-life balance indirectly predicts decreased hazardous alcohol use (b = -.149, p = .004) and decreased risk for prescription drug misuse (b = -.185, p < .001). Exploration of the model across racial-ethnic and gender groups revealed that higher work-life balance indirectly predicts decreased hazardous alcohol use for Black and Asian Americans, but not for Latinos and Whites; and higher work-life balance indirectly predicts decreased hazardous alcohol use for men, but not women. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the work-family interface can help providers understand prevention, risk-reduction practices, and interventions for hazardous alcohol use and prescription drug misuse among diverse working parents in STEM.

Factorial invariance of the Marianismo Beliefs Scale among Latinos in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

OBJECTIVE: The Marianismo Beliefs Scale (MBS) assesses five components of marianismo, a cultural script of Latina gender role expectations. This study evaluated the MBS's psychometric properties across language, sex, and Latino subgroups (Mexican American, Central American, Cuban American, Dominican American, Puerto Rican, and South American). METHOD: Study sample was derived from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study which consisted of a community sample of 4879 Latino adults aged 18-64 from four field centers (Miami, FL, USA; San Diego, CA, USA; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses supported five factors. English and Spanish versions demonstrated equivalence of factor loadings and error variances across Latino subgroups and sex. CONCLUSION: Although the MBS English and Spanish versions are psychometrically sound measures for male and female Latino adults, future research is needed to determine whether direct scale scores are comparable.

Bicultural stress, coping, and psychological functioning among Mexican-descent and White college students.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates associations between bicultural stress, coping, and responses to stress (RTS) in relation to depressive symptoms and self-esteem for Mexican-descent and non-Latinx White college students. METHOD: With a sample of 268 Mexican-descent and non-Latinx White college students, two multiple-mediation path models and two moderation models are examined. RESULTS: The hypothesized mediation models were both supported indicating higher bicultural stress is associated with higher reporting of engaged and disengaged forms of coping and RTS. Engaged coping was associated with mental health resiliency while disengaged coping and RTS contributed to vulnerability. Disengaged and secondary engaged coping were mediators in the depressive symptoms and self-esteem models. In terms of moderation, disengaged coping and RTS were both moderators in the bicultural stress-depressive symptoms relationships. CONCLUSIONS: College students' reactions to bicultural stress may either promote mental health resiliency through engaged strategies or increase vulnerability through disengaged coping and involuntary RTS.

Is there a link between wealth and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Hispanic/Latinos? Results from the HCHS/SOL sociocultural ancillary study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between wealth and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Hispanic/Latinos of diverse backgrounds. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used data from 4971 Hispanic/Latinos, 18-74 years, who participated in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) baseline exam and the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study. Three objectively measured cardiovascular disease risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity) were included. Wealth was measured using an adapted version of the Home Affluence Scale, which included questions regarding the ownership of a home, cars, computers, and recent vacations. RESULTS: After adjusting for traditional socioeconomic indicators (income, employment, education), and other covariates, we found that wealth was not associated with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia or obesity. Analyses by sex showed that middle-wealth women were less likely to have hypercholesterolemia or obesity. Analyses by Hispanic/Latino background groups showed that while wealthier Central Americans were less likely to have obesity, wealthier Puerto Ricans were more likely to have obesity. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to explore the relationship between wealth and health among Hispanic/Latinos of diverse backgrounds, finding only partial evidence of this association. Future studies should utilize more robust measures of wealth, and address mechanisms by which wealth may impact health status among Hispanic/Latinos of diverse backgrounds in longitudinal designs.

Alcohol Use Severity Among Hispanic Emerging Adults in Higher Education: Understanding the Effect of Cultural Congruity.

BACKGROUND: Identifying and understanding determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic college students is an increasingly important public health issue, particularly during emerging adulthood. Studies examining ethnocultural determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic college students have focused on direct associations with cultural orientation (e.g., acculturation and enculturation); yet there is a need for research that accounts for the complex interplay of other culturally relevant sociocultural factors. OBJECTIVES: This study examined associations of behavioral acculturation, behavioral enculturation, and cultural congruity (perception of cultural fit between the values of the academic environment and the student's personal values) with alcohol use severity (AUS); and tested if gender moderated those associations. METHODS: A hierarchical linear regression and moderation analysis were conducted on a sample of 167 Hispanic emerging adults (ages 18-25) enrolled in college. RESULTS: All predictor variables entered in the regression model accounted for 20.9% of the variance in AUS. After controlling for demographic variables and depressive symptoms, behavioral acculturation and enculturation did not have a statistically significant association with AUS. Further, gender did not moderate either of these associations. Conversely, greater cultural congruity was associated with lower reports of AUS. A moderation analysis suggested that cultural congruity predicted lower reports of AUS among men, but not among women. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first known study to examine the association of cultural congruity with alcohol use. Findings highlight the value of examining contextual factors of culture and moving beyond reductive measures of cultural orientation.

Day laborers' life satisfaction: the role of familismo, spirituality, work, health, and discrimination.

Limited research exists on day laborers' mental health. This study identifies relevant factors that influence the life satisfaction of 143 predominantly undocumented Latino male day laborers. Findings demonstrated the importance of familismo, spirituality, work satisfaction, perceived health, and perceived discrimination on life satisfaction. Given the deleterious impact discrimination can have on mental health, we examined whether perceived discrimination's role on life satisfaction would be buffered by familismo, spirituality, work satisfaction, and perceived health. Among these variable, spirituality and perceived health were identified as protective factors against the role of perceived discrimination on life satisfaction. Implications for research and practice with Latino male day laborers are discussed.

Social cognitive predictors of Mexican American college students' academic and life satisfaction.

In this study, we used Lent's (2004) social cognitive model of well being to examine the academic and life satisfaction of 457 Mexican American college students attending a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Using structural equation modeling, results indicated that the model provided a good fit to the data. Specifically, we found positive relations from positive affect to enculturation, acculturation, college self-efficacy, academic satisfaction, and life satisfaction; from enculturation to college self-efficacy; from acculturation to college self-efficacy and college outcome expectations; from college self-efficacy to college outcome expectations, academic goal progress, academic satisfaction, and life satisfaction; from college outcome expectations to academic satisfaction; from academic goal progress to academic and life satisfaction; and from academic satisfaction to life satisfaction. Findings indicated the model was invariant across gender groups, and overall, 38% and 14% of the variance in academic satisfaction and life satisfaction, respectively, were explained by the predictor variables. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

A qualitative inquiry of Latino immigrants' work experiences in the Midwest.

Latino immigrants are the largest source of immigrant workers in the United States. In this study, 11 first-generation Latino immigrants (8 men, 3 women) living in the Midwest were interviewed about their work experiences. Interview data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research methods (Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997). Five domains associated with the data included work for survival and power, work for social connections, work as self-determination, work barriers in the Midwest, and access to work in the Midwest. We identify ways in which vocational psychologists can intervene to work effectively with Latino newcomers seeking employment in the United States and to support their transition into new settlement communities. Suggestions for future research with immigrant workers are discussed.

"I never heard anything about it": Knowledge and psychosocial needs of Latina breast cancer survivors with lymphedema.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death among Latina women in the United States. One aspect of recovery that has been underrepresented in the English-language literature is the recovery of Latina women who have developed lymphedema, a debilitating condition characterized by persistent swelling of the arm, hand, chest, and/or breast. To fill this research gap, a study was conducted to examine the lived experiences of Latina women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. METHODS: Given the limited scholarship on this topic, qualitative methods were used to obtain a foundational and nuanced understanding of Latina women's experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 10 Latina survivors with breast cancer-related lymphedema. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis and constant comparison methodology. RESULTS: The data analysis yielded three major themes: knowledge of lymphedema, impact of lymphedema diagnosis, and coping with lymphedema. Participants had limited knowledge of lymphedema and its risk factors upon diagnosis, in addition to barriers accessing quality care. They also noted psychological distress related to a significant financial burden as well as social anxiety related to interacting with others while wearing compression gloves or sleeves. A major coping strategy was receiving social support from friends, family, peers in structured support groups, and spiritual/religious groups or practices. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings bring to light contextual factors that may place Latina breast cancer survivors at increased risk for lymphedema and for experiencing a high burden managing their condition. Recommendations are provided for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Más allá de las barreras: Competency and practice considerations in language, cultural, and social issues when delivering group CPT to Hispanic immigrants.

High rates of under-assessed trauma and psychiatric disorders, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported among Hispanic immigrants, especially as related to immigration trauma. Multiple studies have shown group cognitive processing therapy (CPT) to be an effective evidence-based practice (EBP) for treatment of PTSD across a number of clinical populations. To date, however, no studies have examined important competency and practice issues in linguistic, cultural, and ethical areas that group CPT providers should consider when delivering group CPT to Hispanic immigrants. This paper aims to outline these and provide future directions for research.

Machismo, Marianismo, and Negative Cognitive-Emotional Factors: Findings From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

There is limited research on the traditional Hispanic male and female gender roles of machismo and marianismo, respectively, in relation to negative cognitions and emotions. Given the vulnerability of Hispanics to negative cognitions and emotions, it is important to examine sociocultural correlates of emotional distress. Therefore, we examined associations of machismo and marianismo with negative cognitive-emotional factors (i.e., depression symptoms; cynical hostility; and trait anxiety and anger) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study, a cross-sectional cohort study of sociocultural and psychosocial correlates of cardiometabolic health. Participants were aged 18-74 years and self-identified as Hispanic of Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South American, and other Hispanic background (N = 4,426). Results revealed that specific components of machismo (traditional machismo) and marianismo (family and spiritual pillar dimensions) were associated with higher levels of negative cognitions and emotions after adjusting for socio-demographic factors (p < .05); these associations remained consistent across sex, Hispanic background group, and acculturation. Findings can inform mental health interventions and contribute to our understanding of the importance of gender role socialization in the context of self-reported negative cognitive-emotional factors in Hispanics.

Alcohol use severity and depressive symptoms among late adolescent Hispanics: Testing associations of acculturation and enculturation in a bicultural transaction model.

Research has indicated that Hispanics have high rates of heavy drinking and depressive symptoms during late adolescence. The purpose of this study was to test a bicultural transaction model composed of two enthnocultural orientations (acculturation and enculturation); and stressful cultural transactions with both the U.S. culture (perceived ethnic discrimination) and Hispanic culture (perceived intragroup marginalization) to predict alcohol use severity and depressive symptoms among a sample of 129 (men=39, women=90) late adolescent Hispanics (ages 18-21) enrolled in college. Results from a path analysis indicated that the model accounted for 18.2% of the variance in alcohol use severity and 24.3% of the variance in depressive symptoms. None of the acculturation or enculturation domains had statistically significant direct effects with alcohol use severity or depressive symptoms. However, higher reports of ethnic discrimination were associated with higher reports of alcohol use severity and depressive symptoms. Similarly, higher reports of intragroup marginalization were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Further, both ethnic discrimination and intragroup marginalization functioned as mediators of multiple domains of acculturation and enculturation. These findings highlight the need to consider the indirect effects of enthnocultural orientations in relation to health-related outcomes.

Parent conflict as a mediator between marianismo beliefs and depressive symptoms for Mexican American college women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine how marianismo is related to the depressive symptoms of Mexican American women with family conflict as a mediator. PARTICIPANTS: During January of 2010, 170 Mexican American women college students in a southern, Hispanic-serving institution were sampled. METHODS: A mediation analysis was conducted to determine if parent conflict mediates the relationship between marianismo values and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Results from Barron and Kenny's(1) mediation analysis method, in conjunction with a Sobel(2) test indicated that parent conflict significantly mediated the relation between marianismo and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings and implications of the mediation will be discussed for the mental health and treatment of Mexican American women college students.