Minority Stress and Depressive Symptoms: Familism, Ethnic Identity, and Gender as Moderators

This study examined familism, ethnic identity (search and commitment), and gender as moderators in the associations between two minority stressors (perceived discrimination and acculturative stress) and depressive symptoms in college students of Mexican ancestry (N = 207) at a Hispanic-serving institution. Using hierarchical multiple regression, we examined main effects and interactions of minority stress variables with hypothesized moderators. Results indicated that familism buffered the positive association between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms. Ethnic identity search and commitment showed gender-specific moderation effects in that a strong ethnic identity search or commitment was protective for women but not for men, when considerable amounts of acculturative stress were experienced. Ethnic identity search also showed gender-specific moderation effects on the association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of examining cultural variables and gender to understand what may be helpful to students of Mexican ancestry as they manage minority stressors.