Acculturative Stress Mediates the Longitudinal Relationship Between Acculturation Processes and Psychological Distress among Recently Immigrated, Latina Young Adults.

Acculturation processes affect Latino/a immigrants' adjustment to the United States (U.S.). However, the longitudinal mechanisms by which psychological distress might be influenced by acculturation processes during the years immediately after immigration are understudied. Thus, we examined the potential direct and indirect effects of acculturation processes (dominant society immersion and ethnic society immersion) on psychological distress with acculturative stress as a mediator among Latina young adults during their initial years in the U.S. post-immigration. A sample of 530 Latina young adults were recruited within 36 months of their immigration to the U.S. (M = 11.52 months in U.S., SD = 9.94) and assessed annually for three years post-immigration. There was a positive indirect effect from ethnic society immersion-through acculturative stress-to psychological distress. That is, women indicating more ethnic society immersion at baseline assessment reported more distress in the third annual assessment due to experience of increased acculturative stress during their second annual assessment. Findings underscore the importance of acculturation processes and suggest the need for interventions promoting adaptation to mitigate stressors and reduce stress among Latina young adult immigrants.