Acculturation, Enculturation, Perceived Racism, Minority Status Stressors, and Psychological Symptomatology Among Latino/as

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible relations between perceived racism and minority status stressors as experienced by Latino/ as and their mental health functioning, as operationalized in terms of somatization, anxiety, and hostility. In addition, the potentially protective moderating role of enculturation and potentially harmful moderating role of acculturation on these relationships were investigated. As hypothesized, the results indicated that perceived racism and minority status stressors were positively correlated with somatization, anxiety, and hostility. Although enculturation did moderate the relationship between perceived racism and minority status stressors and anxiety and hostility, it was in an unexpected direction. Results did not indicate that acculturation played a moderator role.