A daily diary investigation of Latino ethnic identity, discrimination, and depression. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The objectives of the current study were to document the effects of discrimination on Latino mental health and to identify the circumstances by which ethnic identity serves a protective function. Instances of discrimination and depressive symptoms were measured every day for 13 days in a sample of Latino adults (N = 91). Multilevel random coefficient modeling showed a 1-day lagged effect in which increases in depression were observed the day following a discriminatory event. The findings also revealed differential effects of ethnic identity exploration and commitment. Whereas ethnic identity exploration was found to exacerbate the influence of daily discrimination on next-day depression, ethnic identity commitment operated as a stress buffer, influencing the intensity of and recovery from daily discrimination. The findings are discussed within a stress and coping perspective that identifies appropriate cultural resources for decreasing the psychological consequences associated with daily discrimination.

publication date

  • October 1, 2010

Research

keywords

  • Depression
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Mental Health
  • Prejudice
  • Social Identification

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 78549270768

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1037/a0020652

PubMed ID

  • 21058819

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 16

issue

  • 4