Examining the Impact of Stressors, Depressive Symptoms, and the Moderating Role of Traditional Latino Gender Norms in Miami Dade County

Authors

Gabriella Marie WuykeFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Public Health

First Advisor's Name

Patria Rojas

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Mariana Sanchez

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Miguel A Cano

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Mario De La Rosa

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Machismo, Caballerismo, Gender Norms, Latinx, Depression

Date of Defense

6-25-2021

Abstract

Latino men experience disproportionate rates of depressive symptoms, compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Factors related to immigration, culture, and the endorsement of traditional Latino gender norms can have deleterious effects on the mental health of Latino men. The aims of this research study were to examine the moderating role of traditional Latino gender norms among immigration and cultural stressors on depressive symptoms among Latino immigrant men in Miami-Dade County using three distinct data sets.

The first study (N= 279) examined the moderating role of machismo and caballerismo between negative context of reception (NCR) and depressive symptoms. Moderation analysis revealed significant interaction effects with higher endorsement of machismo exacerbating the association between NCR and depressive symptoms. The second study (N=271) examined the moderating role of traditional Latino gender norms among social subject status (SSS) and depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that lower endorsement of traditional Latino gender norms moderated the association between SSS and depressive symptoms. A third study (N=108) was conducted to examine the moderating role of machismo and caballerismo on family stressors and depressive symptoms among Latino father figures. At average and high levels of machismo, men reporting having high levels of marital stress experienced higher depressive symptoms, compared to those with no marital martial stress. Among men with high levels of machismo men with no family disengagement stress had lower levels of depressive symptoms compared to those with high levels of stress. Among men with high levels of caballerismo, those with little marital stress had lowers levels of depressive symptoms compared to those with high marital stress. Lastly, at high levels of caballerismo, men reporting a little parenting stress had higher depressive symptoms compared to those reporting high stress.

The findings of this dissertation reveal that endorsement of traditional Latino gender norms such as machismo and caballerismo can both exacerbate and attenuate depressive symptoms among Latino immigrant men in Miami-Dade County. As such, future directions of research should continue to focus on gender norms and mental health. These findings may also provide insight into the development of culturally tailored mental health interventions among Latino men.

Identifier

FIDC010283

Recommended Citation

Wuyke, Gabriella Marie, "Examining the Impact of Stressors, Depressive Symptoms, and the Moderating Role of Traditional Latino Gender Norms in Miami Dade County" (2021). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4777.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4777