Cancer fatalism, social media informational awareness, and education.

OBJECTIVE: Understand if cancer fatalism among adult social media users in the United States is linked to social media informational awareness and if the relationship varies by education level. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 3,948) were analyzed using multivariable linear probability models. The study population was defined as social media users active within the past year. The outcome variable was cancer fatalism and the predictor variables were social media informational awareness and education level. RESULTS: Participants with low social media informational awareness were 9% (95% CI = 3, 15), 6% (95% CI = 1, 11), and 21% (95% CI = 14, 27) percentage points more likely to agree that it seems like everything causes cancer, you cannot lower your chances of getting cancer, and there are too many cancer prevention recommendations to follow, respectively. Participants with a college degree or higher level of education and who reported high social media informational awareness were the least likely to agree that everything causes cancer (60%; 95% CI = 54, 66), you cannot lower your chances of getting cancer (14%; 95% CI = 10, 19), and there are too many cancer prevention recommendations to follow (52%; 95% CI = 46, 59). CONCLUSION: Social media informational awareness was associated with lower levels of cancer fatalism among adult social media users. College graduates with high social media informational awareness were the least likely to report cancer fatalism.

Association of Electronic-Cigarette, Number of Cigarettes, and Marijuana Use with High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Among Men and Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is associated with an increased risk of HPV infection. However, the use of e-cigarettes and marijuana, number of cigarettes, and serum cotinine concentrations in relation with HPV (6, 11, 16, 18) and high-risk HPV (16 or 18) infections in underserved and understudied populations remain poorly understood. METHODS: Data included 687 males and 664 females among whom 489 were White, 375 were Black and 342 were Hispanics from the NHANES 2013-2016 with HPV and high-risk HPV infections. Smoking history included current and past smokers, number of cigarettes, use of e-cigarettes, marijuana, and serum cotinine levels. Weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. RESULTS: High-risk HPV infection was associated with current smoking history plus ≥ 20 cigarettes/day (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.09, 3.37) in the overall population. E-cigarettes use (5 days) was positively associated with high-risk HPV infection (OR=2.43, 95% CI=1.13, 5.22) in the overall population, with similar findings with e-cigarette (past 30 days) among women and Whites. CONCLUSION: High number of cigarettes, e-cigarette usage and marijuana were associated with HPV and high-risk HPV infections in the overall population. Most of these associations remained significant when stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. Increasing use of e-cigarettes and marijuana in these population warrants further investigation for the prevention of HPV infection and related cancers.

Online xenophobia and mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth in Colombia: The interplay with "in-person" discrimination.

Emerging research provides insights into migration-related cultural stress experiences and mental health among Venezuelan migrants; however, prior studies have not considered the critical distinction between online xenophobia and in-person discrimination. To address this gap, we assess the psychometric properties of an abbreviated version of the Perceived Online Racism Scale (PORS) with Venezuelan migrant youth and examine the interplay between online xenophobia, in-person discrimination, and mental health. Survey data were collected from Venezuelan migrant youth (N = 319; ages 13-17, 49.5% female) in Colombia in April-July 2023. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the PORS, and multiple regression was conducted to examine key associations. The CFA showed excellent model fit: χ²(7) = 13.498, p = .061; comparative fit index = .989; Tucker-Lewis index = .977; root-mean-square error of approximation = .055; standardized root-mean-square residual = .026. Controlling for demographic factors, online xenophobia was associated with depressive symptoms (ß = .253, p < .001) and anxiety (ß = .200, p = .001). The online xenophobia-mental health association weakened when controlling for in-person discrimination but remained nevertheless significant (depression: ß = .181, p = .002, anxiety: ß = .135, p = .026). Interaction effects (Online × In-Person) revealed a pattern in which greater exposure to online xenophobia was associated with greater distress, but only at relatively low levels of in-person discrimination. Findings provide new insights regarding (a) the properties of an increasingly relevant measure of cultural stress, (b) how online xenophobia relates to mental health, and (c) the interplay of online and in-person cultural stressors vis-à-vis mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A confirmatory factor analysis of a revised motives for playing drinking games (MPDG-33) scale among university students in the United States.

AIM: Participating in a drinking game (DG) is common practice among university students and can increase students' risk for heavy drinking. Given the theoretical link between motivations to drink and alcohol use, careful consideration should be given to students' motivations to play DGs. In this study, we examined the factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent validity of a revised version of the motives for playing drinking games (MPDG) scale, the MPDG-33. METHODS: University students (n = 3345, Mage = 19.77 years, SDage = 1.53; 68.8% = women; 59.6% = White) from 12 U.S. universities completed a confidential online self-report survey that included the MPDG-33 and questions regarding their frequency of DG participation and typical drink consumption while playing DGs. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the 7-factor model fit the data adequately, and all items had statistically significant factor loadings on their predicted factor. All subscales had adequate to excellent internal consistency and were positively correlated with the frequency of DG participation and the typical number of drinks consumed while playing DGs (though the correlations were small). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the MPDG-33 can be reliably used in research and clinical settings to assess U.S. university students' motives for playing DGs.

Co-action and changes in alcohol use during a smoking cessation attempt.

AIMS: Three smoking cessation studies (CARE, Break Free, Por Nuestra Salud [PNS]) were used to measure changes in average alcohol consumption, binge drinking and alcohol-related problems during a smoking cessation attempt and to explore co-action with smoking abstinence. DESIGN: CARE and PNS were longitudinal cohort cessation studies; Break Free was a two-arm randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Texas, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were current smokers who were recruited from the community and received smoking cessation interventions. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation counseling. CARE included 424 smokers (1/3 White, 1/3 African American and 1/3 Latino); Break Free included 399 African American smokers; PNS included 199 Spanish-speaking Mexican-American smokers. MEASUREMENTS: Weekly alcohol consumption was collected multiple times pre and post-quit, and binge drinking and alcohol-related problems were collected at baseline and 26 weeks post-quit. Analyses included only those who indicated current alcohol use. FINDINGS: Average alcohol consumption decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 17.09, P < 0.001), Break Free (F = 12.08, P < 0.001) and PNS (F = 10.21, P < 0.001). Binge drinking decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 3.94, P = 0.04) and Break Free (F = 10.41, P < 0.001) but not PNS. Alcohol-related problems decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (Chi-sq = 6.41, P = 0.010) and Break Free (Chi sq = 14.44, P = 0.001), but not PNS. CONCLUSIONS: Among current drinkers, alcohol use/problems appear to decrease during a smoking cessation attempt and remain low through 26 weeks after the quit attempt. Little evidence was found for co-action, with smoking abstainers and relapsers showing similar change in alcohol use/problems.

Evaluating the indirect roles of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the relations between negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress and cigarette smoking among Hispanic adults who smoke.

There has been increased recognition that Hispanic/Latinx (hereinafter Hispanic) persons are a tobacco disparities group in the United States. Although some past work has found greater exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination is associated with indices of smoking among Hispanic persons, research has not explored the degree of negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress in terms of smoking processes. The present cross-sectional study served to evaluate the indirect effects of depressive and anxiety symptoms in terms of relations between racial/ethnic stress reactivity and cigarette dependence, severity of problems when trying to quit, and perceived barriers for quitting among Hispanic persons who smoke in the United States. Participants included 329 Hispanic adults who smoked cigarettes daily (Mage = 35.5 years; SD = 8.67; 37.4% female). Results indicated that depressive symptoms exerted a statistically significant indirect effect in the association between negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress and cigarette dependence and severity of problems when trying to quit, whereas anxiety symptoms maintained an indirect effect for perceived barriers for smoking cessation. The current findings help characterize the intricacies by which negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress is related to smoking behavior and beliefs among Hispanic persons who smoke. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluating Alcohol Use Severity in Terms of Cigarette Smoking-Related Processes and Anxiety/Depression Among Adult Latinx Smokers.

OBJECTIVE: Although empirical work focused on smoking-drinking comorbidity among Latinx persons is growing, no work has explored the relation between alcohol use severity in terms of co-occurring smoking processes and mental health. Therefore, the present investigation aimed to explore the prevalence and role of alcohol use severity in relation to clinically significant tobacco and mental health problems among English-speaking Latinx adults who smoke cigarettes. METHODS: Participants included 338 English-speaking Latinx adults who smoked cigarettes daily (Mage = 35.5 years; SD = 8.65; age range 18-61; 37.3% female). RESULTS: Results indicated that approximately 68% of male and 61% of female smokers scored above established clinical cutoffs for hazardous and harmful alcohol use and possible alcohol dependence. Moreover, alcohol use severity was associated with increased risk for cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for quitting, and more problematic symptoms when trying to quit. Alcohol use severity was also related to more severe anxiety and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the current findings suggest that intervening to reduce alcohol use severity may be important to improving smoking cessation and mental health among Latinx persons who smoke.

Posttraumatic stress and probable post traumatic stress disorder as it relates to smoking behavior and beliefs among trauma exposed hispanic persons who smoke.

There has been little scientific effort to evaluate the associations between cigarette smoking and cessation-related constructs and exposure to traumatic events, posttraumatic stress, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms among Hispanic persons who smoke in the United States (US). Such trauma-related factors may pose unique difficulties for Hispanic persons who smoke and possess a desire to quit. As such, the present investigation sought to fill this gap in the literature and examine posttraumatic stress and probable PTSD in terms of their relations with several clinically significant smoking constructs among trauma-exposed Hispanic persons who smoke from the United States. Participants included 228 Spanish-speaking Hispanic persons who endorsed prior traumatic event exposure and smoked combustible cigarettes daily (58.3% female, Mage= 32.1 years, SD = 9.65). Results indicated that posttraumatic stress symptoms were related to increased cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for smoking cessation, and more severe problems when trying to quit with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate in adjusted models. Additionally, Hispanic persons who smoke with probable PTSD compared to those without probable PTSD showcased a statistically effect for perceived barriers for cessation (p < .008) and a severity of problems when trying to quit (p < .001). No effect was evident for cigarette dependence after alpha correction. Overall, the present study offers novel empirical evidence related to the role of posttraumatic stress symptoms and PTSD among Hispanic persons who smoke in the US. Such findings highlight the need to expand this line of research to better understand the role of posttraumatic stress and PTSD among Hispanic persons who smoke which can inform smoking cessation treatments for Hispanic persons who smoke experiencing trauma-related symptomology.

Ethnic discrimination, acculturative stress, and sexual risk among Latinx emerging adults: Examining moderation effects of familism support and ethnic identity.

OBJECTIVES: Ethnic discrimination and acculturative stress play an important role in sexual risk behaviors for Latinx emerging adults, who are at disproportionate risk for sexually transmitted infections. Factors such as familism support and ethnic identity may be protective, yet research is limited. This study is guided by a culturally adapted stress and coping framework to examine associations of ethnic discrimination and acculturative stress with sexual risk behaviors (i.e., multiple sex partners, alcohol or drug use before sex, and condomless sex with a primary or casual partner), and examine the moderating roles of familism support and ethnic identity among Latinx emerging adults. METHOD: Participants were recruited from Arizona and Florida and were primarily female (51.3%) with a mean age of 21.48 years (SD = 2.06). Using cross-sectional data from 158 sexually active Latinx emerging adults, this study employed multiple logistic regression and moderation analyses. RESULTS: Higher levels of ethnic discrimination and pressure to acculturate were associated with fewer sex partners, and higher levels of pressure against acculturation were associated with increased condomless sex with a casual partner. The moderation effect of higher levels of familism support on pressure to acculturate was associated with fewer sex partners, and the moderation effect of higher levels of ethnic identity on pressure against acculturation was associated with decreased condomless sex with casual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Examining the results within a culturally informed theoretical framework supports that protective factors may help mitigate sexual risk factors among Latinx emerging adults experiencing acculturative stress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Anxiety sensitivity reduction-smoking cessation intervention among individuals who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use: A secondary analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis use among individuals who smoke is prevalent in the general population and related to adverse health effects, including higher levels of interoceptive perturbation (i.e., a disturbance in internal experiences). An important aspect of smoking cessation among individuals who co-use cannabis is to address behavioral associations between physiological sensations and habitual behaviors via integrated treatments focused on reducing reactivity to internal perturbations such as anxiety sensitivity (i.e., the belief that such symptoms produce personal harm). METHODS: The current study involved a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of an integrated anxiety sensitivity-smoking cessation intervention compared to standard smoking cessation. The current study sought to extend findings from the initial trial to examine if the integrated intervention produced better smoking cessation outcomes than standard care among individuals who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use. Participants were 149 adults who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use (41.6 % female; Mage = 30.89, SD = 13.1). RESULTS: Results indicated that the anxiety sensitivity intervention produced statistically significant differences in distal (long-term) smoking abstinence at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up assessments but not proximal (short-term; quit-week to 2-weeks) smoking abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the potential of an integrated anxiety sensitivity smoking cessation intervention to yield better long-term smoking abstinence rates than standard cessation treatment among individuals who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use is clinically significant.

The relationship between discrimination, alcohol use severity, and PTSD symptoms among Latinx heavy drinkers.

INTRODUCTION: Discrimination is linked to alcohol use severity among Latinx adults, who also show high prevalence rates of PTSD compared to non-Latinx adults. We know little about whether PTSD symptoms affects the relationship between discrimination and alcohol use severity. We hypothesized that the association between discrimination and alcohol use severity might differ by level of PTSD symptom severity. METHODS: This is a secondary cross-sectional analysis of data collected at baseline from a completed randomized clinical trial testing the relative efficacy of a culturally adapted motivational interview designed to address discrimination and drinking behavior against an unadapted motivational interview for Latinx adults. Eligible participants screened positive for the NIAAA Single Alcohol Screening Question for heavy drinking days, identified as Latinx, and were 18-65 years old. We assessed the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Primary Care PC-PTSD screener, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics. The study analyzed the main and interactive effects of discrimination and PTSD symptoms on alcohol use severity, while controlling for age, sex, household income, and acculturation. RESULTS: After controlling for covariates in model 2, the interaction of discrimination and PTSD symptoms was significantly related to alcohol use severity. Simple slopes analysis indicated that discrimination was positively related to alcohol use severity among those with high (1 SD above the mean) but not low (1 SD below the mean) levels of PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that the experiences of discrimination were associated with alcohol use severity among those who reported more PTSD symptoms. Specifically, discrimination may have a stronger effect on alcohol use severity among Latinx adults who report more PTSD symptoms. Screening Latinx adults for heavy drinking days, discrimination, and PTSD symptoms is clinically important. Culturally adapted alcohol interventions that target discrimination may be particularly effective for Latinx individuals with more PTSD symptoms.

Differences in smoking behavior and beliefs about abstinence among Latinx individuals with and without depression who smoke cigarettes.

There is a well-established relation between depression and smoking in the general population. However, past work focused on Latinx persons who smoke in relation to depressed affect has yielded inconsistent findings. The present investigation aimed to build on past research and evaluate differences among English-speaking Latinx adults who smoke combustible cigarettes with and without probable depression in terms of cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for quitting, severity of problems when quitting, and smoking abstinence expectancies. The current sample included 338 adult Latinx daily cigarette smokers (Mage = 35.53 years; SD = 8.65; age range 18-61; 37.3% female) that were recruited nationally throughout the US. Results indicated that among Latinx persons who smoke, those with probable depression (compared to those without) demonstrated higher levels of cigarette dependence, more severe problems when trying to quit, greater perceived barriers for quitting, and increased negative abstinence expectancies after adjusting for sociodemographic and concurrent substance use variables. Future work could build from this research to elucidate the role of depression in the maintenance and relapse of smoking among the Latinx population.

A qualitative community health assessment of HIV prevention awareness in a semi-rural Latinx seasonal farm working community in South Florida.

This article explores HIV awareness and prevention in a Latinx seasonal farmworker community of south Miami-Dade County in the USA. The study took place as part of a larger community assessment that aimed to determine community needs and resources related to substance abuse, violence and HIV in the Latinx seasonal farmworker communities of south Miami-Dade County, with a particular focus on fathers' and their male sons' relationships. The study collected data on HIV knowledge and prevention, healthcare-seeking behaviours, cultural norms, and communication barriers about HIV prevention between fathers and sons. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with community leaders, two focus groups with social and health services providers, and four focus groups involving fathers and their adolescent sons. A deductive approach to data analysis was undertaken. Five major themes were identified: (1) HIVrelated knowledge and perception; (2) HIV prevention strategies; (3) barriers and needs for tailored preventive health and care services in the community; (4) stress over sex-related communication; and (5) the dominance of traditional masculine gender norms in the household and the community.

Effects of Pictorial Health Warning Labels on Intention to Quit Waterpipe in Lebanon: A Mediation Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pictorial health warning labels on waterpipe tobacco packages represent a better strategy for communicating the health risks associated with waterpipe use and promoting quit intention than text-only. However, the mechanism by which these warnings lead to higher intentions to quit remains unknown. This study explores how pictorial warnings vs. text-only induce higher quit intention among a sample of young adult waterpipe smokers in Lebanon. METHODS: An online randomized cross-over experimental study was conducted in August 2021 among 276 young adult waterpipe smokers who were exposed to two conditions: pictorial health warning label and text-only warning on waterpipe tobacco packages in random order. After each image, participants completed post-exposure assessments of health communication outcomes (e.g., attention and negative affect). Using serial and parallel mediation analysis, we examined the role of attention, negative affect, cognitive elaboration, and perceived harm in mediating the relationship between exposure to HWLs and intention to quit. RESULTS: Using serial mediation, exposure to pictorial warnings vs. text-only was found to affect intention to quit through the following pathways: attention and negative affect, which accounted for 17.28% of the total effect, and through negative affect and cognitive elaboration, which accounted for 21.53% of the total effect. Results of parallel mediation showed that the indirect effect pathways via negative affect [ß= 0.063; (95% bootstrap CI=0.004, 0.149)] and cognitive elaboration [0.047; (0.001, 0.114)] were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The findings call on designing and implementing attention-grabbing, emotionally evocative, and cognitively persuasive pictorial warnings in Lebanon and other countries to curb waterpipe tobacco smoking. IMPLICATIONS: This is among the first experimental studies looking at multiple mediators underlying the effect of exposure to pictorial health warning labels on intention to quit in a sample of current waterpipe smokers in Lebanon. The findings showed that using attention-grabbing, emotionally evocative, and persuasive pictures with a clear textual warning is crucial to maximizing the impact of implementing waterpipe health warning labels regulations in Lebanon and other countries to curb waterpipe tobacco smoking.

Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Recent Latino/a Immigrants: The Moderating Effects of Emotion Regulation and Dispositional Mindfulness.

Their initial years in the U.S. can be stressful for recent Latino/a immigrants (RLIs). This study examines the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms and the moderating effect of emotion regulation and dispositional mindfulness. Cross-sectional data from an ongoing longitudinal study of RLIs was used. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to examine simple main effects of the predictor variables on depressive symptoms. The study also tested the moderating effects of emotion regulation and dispositional mindfulness on the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Greater perceived stress and cognitive reappraisal were associated with greater depressive symptoms. Lower levels of appraisal and higher levels of non-reactivity mindfulness strengthened the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Findings can inform the development of culturally tailored interventions that account for distinct aspects of emotion regulation and dispositional mindfulness associated with managing stress and decreasing depressive symptoms among RLIs.

Ethnic Discrimination and Self-rated Health among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of Self-esteem and Resilience.

Exposure to ethnic discrimination has been conceptualized as a sociocultural stressor that is associated with lower self-rated health. However, this association remains understudied among Hispanics and less is known about constructs that may mitigate the effects of ethnic discrimination on self-rated health. Accordingly, this study aimed to (a) examine the association between ethnic discrimination and self-rated health among Hispanic emerging adults (ages 18-25), and (b) examine the extent to which self-esteem and resilience may moderate this association. A convenience sample of 200 Hispanic emerging adults from Arizona (n=99) and Florida (n=101) was recruited to complete a cross-sectional survey. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses. Results indicate that higher ethnic discrimination was associated with lower self-rated health. Moderation analyses indicated that self-esteem functioned as a moderator that weakened the association between ethnic discrimination and self-rated health; however, resilience did not function similarly as a moderator. This study adds to the limited literature on ethnic discrimination and self-rated health among Hispanics and highlights that psychological factors, such as enhancing self-esteem, may help buffer the adverse effects of ethnic discrimination on health outcomes.

Impact of online and offline racism on cigarette smoking, marijuana use, and vaping via depressive/anxiety symptoms among racially minoritized emerging adults.

Studies have found that offline and online racism are linked to mental health issues including depressive and anxiety symptoms among racially minoritized emerging adults. To cope with these symptoms, racially minoritized emerging adults may resort to substance use. Thus, we examined the relationship between offline and online racism and recent smoking behaviors (past 30 days), and whether depressive and anxiety symptoms (DAS) mediate this relationship. We hypothesized that offline and online racism would be associated with a greater probability of recent smoking through depressive/anxiety symptoms. With data from 338 participants (Mage = 23.28, SD = 2.38), we conducted a path analysis of offline racism (Everyday Discrimination Scale) and online racism (Perceived Online Racism Scale) predicting recent smoking (recent cigarette smoking, recent marijuana use, recent vaping) via depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)/anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) symptoms. Offline racism was directly associated with recent cigarette smoking while online racism was directly associated with recent vaping. No significant indirect associations were observed with cigarette smoking and vaping. Both online and offline racism were indirectly associated with recent marijuana use via depressive/anxiety symptoms. Our findings suggest that there are nuanced differences between the impact that online and offline racism experiences may have on the DAS, and smoking behaviors of racially minoritized emerging adults. Implications for research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The role of personal identity as a resource for college students during COVID-19.

Objective: We examined the role of personal identity vis-à-vis COVID-related outcomes among college students from seven U.S. campuses during spring/summer 2021. Participants: The present sample consisted of 1,688 students (74.5% female, age range 18-29). The sample was ethnically diverse, and 57.3% were first-generation students. Procedures: Students completed an online survey assessing personal identity synthesis and confusion, COVID-related worries, general internalizing symptoms, positive adaptation, and general well-being. Results: Personal identity synthesis was negatively related to COVID-related worries and general internalizing symptoms, and positively related to positive adaptation, both directly and indirectly through life satisfaction and psychological well-being. Personal identity confusion evidenced an opposing set of direct and indirect associations with outcome variables. Conclusions: Personal identity may potentially be protective against pandemic-related distress among college students, in part through its association with well-being. Reducing identity confusion and promoting identity synthesis are essential among college students during this and future pandemics.

Acculturative Stress and Self-rated Health among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of the Social Environment and Social Support.

Little is known about the impact of sociocultural stressors such as acculturative stress on self-rated health among Hispanics. We aimed to examine (a) associations between acculturative stress and self-rated health, and (b) the moderating effects of the community of settlement (i.e., Maricopa County, AZ and Miami-Dade County, FL) and social support on the association between acculturative stress and self-rated health. A hierarchical multiple regression model and moderation analyses were conducted using a cross-sectional sample of 200 Hispanic emerging adults from Arizona and Florida. Findings indicate that higher levels of pressure to acculturate are associated with lower levels of self-rated health. Community of settlement functioned as a moderator whereby pressure to acculturate was only associated with lower levels of self-rated health in Maricopa County. Lastly, a three-way interaction indicated that emotional social support mitigated the association between pressure to acculturate and self-rated health in Maricopa County. This study highlights the importance of accounting for community of settlement when examining associations between acculturative stress and health-related outcomes. A finding that may have implications for interventions is that social support may help to counteract the effects of acculturative stress.