The Influence of Stress and Change in Subjective Social Status on Mental Health and Sleep Duration among Recent Latino/a Immigrants

Authors

Shaina A. JohnsonFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Public Health

First Advisor's Name

Mariana Sanchez

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Miguel Ángel Cano

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Mario De La Rosa

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Patria Rojas

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Latino/a, immigrant, depression, sleep, stress, social support, family cohesion, subjective social status, socioeconomic status, emotion regulation, mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal

Date of Defense

11-8-2022

Abstract

Latino/a individuals in the U.S. are experiencing increasing rates of sleep health disparities. Immigration stressors and downward changes in subjective social status (SSS) have been linked to physical and mental health outcomes including depression and short sleep duration. However, little is known about how stress and decreases in SSS are linked to mental health and subsequent short sleep among recent Latino immigrants (RLIs). There is also a need to identify modifiable targets for integration into culturally tailored interventions aimed at decreasing the effects of stress on mental and sleep health of RLIs.

Three studies aimed to examine (1) the direct and indirect effects of immigration stress and depressive symptoms on sleep duration among RLIs and the moderating effects of social support and family cohesion, (2) the direct and indirect effects of changes in pre- to post-immigration SSS on sleep duration via depressive symptoms and the moderating role of social support, and (3) the associations between perceived stress and depressive symptoms among RLIs and the moderating effect of emotion regulation strategies and dispositional mindfulness on those associations.

Data came from a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) funded longitudinal study of N = 540 (N = 271 men, N = 269 women) RLIs living in Miami-Dade County. Inclusion criteria included being 18-34 years old and having immigrated to the U.S. from a Latin American country within the past 12 months. Binary logistic regression, hierarchical multiple regression, and moderation mediation analyses were conducted.

Results indicated greater immigration stress was associated with short sleep duration via depressive symptoms. Moderated mediation results revealed the indirect effects of discrimination stress on sleep duration via depressive symptoms were lower among those with greater family cohesion. Decreases in pre- to post-immigration SSS were associated with greater depressive symptoms and short sleep duration. Social support buffered the impact of decreases in SSS on depressive symptoms. Greater perceived stress and cognitive reappraisal were associated with higher depressive symptoms. The mindfulness facet of awareness was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Distinct domains of emotion regulation and dispositional mindfulness moderated the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. These findings can inform the development of culturally responsive interventions targeting stress, mental health, and sleep health among RLIs.

Identifier

FIDC010951

ORCID

0000-0001-6543-8335

Recommended Citation

Johnson, Shaina A., "The Influence of Stress and Change in Subjective Social Status on Mental Health and Sleep Duration among Recent Latino/a Immigrants" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5163.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5163