Understanding the role of social support in trajectories of mental health symptoms for immigrant adolescents

Selcuk R. Sirin, Taveeshi Gupta, Patrice Ryce, Dalal Katsiaficas, Carola Suarez-Orozco, Lauren Rogers-Sirin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This longitudinal study of 286, urban residing, first- and second-generation immigrant adolescents examined the degree to which acculturative stress is related to the developmental trajectories of mental health problems and the role of social support in this process. Participants were recruited when they entered 10th grade and two additional waves of data were gathered at 12-month intervals. Using individual growth curve modeling, the results show significant decline in internalizing mental health problems during the high school years. At the same time, greater exposure to acculturative stress predicted significantly more withdrawn/depressed, somatic, and anxious/depressed symptoms. Additionally, social support moderated the relation between acculturative stress and anxious/depressed symptoms. Gender and generation status differences were found only at baseline (10th grade).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)199-207
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Applied Developmental Psychology
Volume34
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

Keywords

  • Acculturative stress
  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Immigrant
  • Social support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Understanding the role of social support in trajectories of mental health symptoms for immigrant adolescents'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this