A pilot study examining bicultural stress, internalizing problems, alcohol use, and familism's moderating role in Hispanic/Latinx college students.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined how bicultural stress affects depressive, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms in first-year Hispanic/Latinx college students, and whether familism moderates these effects. Method: Using the data from the Pathways to College Health Study, 264 self-identifying Hispanic/Latinx first-year students (74.9% woman) at a large public Hispanic-serving university in the Southwest completed online surveys in 2020 or 2021. Results: Results from hierarchical multiple regression models showed that higher levels of bicultural stress were associated with more depressive and anxiety symptoms but not associated with AUD symptoms. Familism was not associated with depressive, anxiety, or AUD symptoms and did not moderate the associations between bicultural stress and these outcomes. Discussion: These findings highlight the impact of bicultural stress on mental health outcomes and suggest familism may not play a substantial role in Hispanic/Latinx college students internalizing and AUD symptoms.