Cultural neurobiology and the family: Evidence from the daily lives of Latino adolescents

Abstract

Culturally linked family influences during adolescence are important predictors of health and well-being for Latino youth, yet few studies have examined whether these familial influences are associated with indicators of typical physiological stress processes. Following a cultural neurobiology framework, we examined the role of family in the everyday lives of Latino adolescents (N = 209; Mage = 18.10; 85.1% Mexican descent; 64.4% female) by investigating familism values and perceptions of parent support as well as daily family assistance behaviors in relation to hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis diurnal patterns, indexed by salivary cortisol five times a day for 3 weekdays. Three-level growth curve analyses revealed that perceptions of parental support were associated with greater cortisol awakening responses, whereas familism values were not associated with diurnal cortisol patterns. In day-to-day analyses, assisting family during the day (compared to not assisting family) was associated with lower waking cortisol levels and flatter diurnal slopes the next day. Our findings highlight the dynamic associations and multiple time courses between cultural values and behaviors, daily experiences, and physiological stress processes for Latino adolescents. Further, we identified important cultural risk and promotive factors associated with physiological regulation in daily life and potential pathways toward health outcomes in adulthood.

Culture and stress biology in immigrant youth from the prenatal period to adolescence: A systematic review

“…In summary, while the experience of language brokering may activate stress biology, recovery from this stress response may vary based on individual and interpersonal contexts. Using the same sample as (Doane et al., 2018), a separate article examined links between cultural values and waking and diurnal cortisol activity (Sladek, Doane, Gonzales, Grimm, & Luecken, 2019). In this study, higher host (United States) cultural values were associated with higher waking cortisol and steeper diurnal cortisol slopes, a pattern interpreted to be adaptive in physiologically preparing individuals to respond to anticipated daily demands.…”

“…While acculturation is also typically discussed as a risk factor, biculturalism and ERI affirmation are promising as promotive factors for acculturating adolescents, and their positive effects on adjustment may be transmitted through stress biology. Interestingly, two studies found no associations between reported familism values and HPA axis functioning (Doane et al., 2018; Gonzales, Johnson, et al, 2018). However, one of these studies (Doane et al., 2018) did find that specific beliefs and practices associated with familism , such as family assistance behaviors, showed meaningful associations with cortisol.…”

“…Interestingly, two studies found no associations between reported familism values and HPA axis functioning (Doane et al., 2018; Gonzales, Johnson, et al, 2018). However, one of these studies (Doane et al., 2018) did find that specific beliefs and practices associated with familism , such as family assistance behaviors, showed meaningful associations with cortisol. These associations may be further moderated by individual and environmental characteristics (Kim, Zhang, et al, 2018).…”

“…In summary, while the experience of language brokering may activate stress biology, recovery from this stress response may vary based on individual and interpersonal contexts. Using the same sample as(Doane et al, 2018), a separate article examined links…”

Cultural development and psychopathology

“…Another domain of research on culture and biology interplay represented in this Special Issue is cultural neurobiology, or the study of the transactions among cultural processes and stress-sensitive neurobiology across development, including the autonomic nervous system, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and the immune system (Doane, Sladek, & Adam, 2018). Doane, Sladek, Breitenstein, and colleagues (2018) investigated whether familial influences were associated with indicators of typical physiological stress processes with a sample of 209 Latino adolescents. They examined familism values, perceptions of parent support, and daily family assistance behaviors in relation to hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis diurnal patterns, indexed by salivary cortisol five times a day for three days.…”