The influence of enculturation and shifting in predicting marianismo beliefs among Latinx women

ABSTRACT

The present study examined shifting, or the altering of one’s self-presentation in response to perceived environmental cultural cues, as a mediator of the predictive effects of Latinx women’s enculturation on their marianismo beliefs. Understanding how Latinx women’s perceptions of traditional cultural values and beliefs regarding gender, such as marianismo (i.e. gendered Latinx family cultural values), are influenced by their enculturation and shifting coping strategies, may provide investigators and practitioners more nuanced ways of viewing these women. These predictive relationships were examined with measures of Latinx enculturation, shifting, and marianismo within a structural model. These quantitative relationships were examined with a sample of 548 Latinx women. Results of a structural equation model indicated full mediation: Latinx women who were less enculturated tended to use shifting to a greater extent, and subsequently were more likely to endorse marianismo beliefs. Enculturation did not directly predict marianismo in the full mediation model. These findings suggest that some Latinx women may navigate perceived hostile social environments through the use of the shifting coping mechanism which in turn results in a stronger endorsement of marianismo beliefs. Implications for clinical work and future research with Latinx populations are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Latinx women
• shifting
• enculturation
• marianismo
• MAIP model
• intersectionality theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sara Garcia

Sara Garcia is a clinical psychologist and currently works with underserved children, adolescents, and their families. She earned her M.S. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of La Verne.

Glenn Gamst

Glenn Gamst is Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at the University of La Verne, where he teaches the doctoral advanced statistics sequence. His research interests include the effects of multicultural variables, such as client-therapist ethnic match, client acculturation status, and therapist cultural competence, on clinical outcomes and client satisfaction.

Lawrence S. Meyers

Lawrence S. Meyers is Professor of Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in research design, data analysis, data interpretation, testing and measurement, and the history and systems of psychology.

Leticia Arellano-Morales

Leticia Arellano-Morales is Professor of Psychology and the Interim Chair of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the University of La Verne. Her research interests include Latinx health and mental health, Chicanx feminism, and multicultural counseling.

Jerry Kernes

Jerry L. Kernes is Chair and Director of Clinical Training of the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at the University of La Verne. He is a licensed psychologist with broad interest in Positive Psychology, Values, and Clinical Decision-making.