Adult attachment, acculturation, acculturative stress, and psychological distress of first-generation latinx immigrants

ABSTRACT

This study examined the unique and joint influences of adult attachment insecurity, acculturation, and acculturative stress on first-generation Latinx immigrants’ psychological outcome. Guided by adult attachment and acculturation theory, a conceptual model was developed to depict the mediational relations among the variables of interest. A sample of 148 first-generation Latinx or Hispanic immigrants completed the research questionnaires. The findings from path analysis indicated that first-generation immigrants with high adult attachment insecurity were likely to have a lower acculturation level, which in turn, was associated with more acculturative stress and greater psychological distress. In addition to the indirect effects through acculturation and acculturative stress, the final model suggested that attachment avoidance had a significant direct effect on acculturative stress while attachment anxiety had a direct effect on psychological distress. Counseling implications of this study’s findings include the importance of assessing first-generation immigrant Latinx clients’ adult attachment styles and acculturation experiences, as well as developing prevention, self-care, and stress coping strategies to increase their intercultural competencies.

KEYWORDS:

• First-generation immigrant
• latinx immigrant
• adult attachment
• acculturation
• acculturative stress

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chiachih DC Wang

Chiachih DC Wang has a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology. He is an associate professor in the Psychology Department at the University of North Texas. His research areas include acculturation and adjustment of immigrant individuals and international students, adult attachment, and cross-cultural variation of attachment behavior.

Ivan Carbajal

Ivan Carbajal has a Ph.D. degree in Behavioral Sciences. He was a doctoral candidate in the Psychology Department at the University of North Texas and is currently an assistant professor at the Oregon State University. His research focuses on cultural neuroscience, including cultural frame switching in bicultural Latinx American individuals.

Ignacio Alejandro Barajas-Munoz

Ignacio Alejandro Barajas-Munoz has a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology. He is a licensed psychologist based in Lawrence, Kansas USA. He is specialized in enhancing clients’ functioning and well-being as well as addressing diversity and cultural adjustment issues.

Kathy Julio

Kathy Julio has a M.A. degree in Counseling. She is a licensed professional counselor and establishes Mother Owl’s Mind Care Place in Independence, Missouri USA. She is fluent in both Spanish and English and provides bilingual mental health services to immigrant individuals and families.

Ayleen Gomez

Ayleen Gomez has a M.A. degree in Counseling. She is a licensed professional counselor and staff therapist in the Washington Early Recognition Center at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She is a bilingual therapist providing various evidence-based treatments.

Marti Trummer

Marti Trummer has a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology. She is a licensed psychologist and assistant director for outreach for Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Houston. Her clinical and research interests include adjustment and acculturation, multicultural factors in therapy, and developmental psychology.

Dominick Scalise

Dominick Scalise has a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology. He is a board certified counseling psychologist and licensed in Kansas and Missouri. He is currently in private practice providing psychological assessment, counseling, and psychotherapy to the community.