Discrimination and Acculturative Stress Among First-Generation Dominicans

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between discriminatory experiences and acculturative stress levels among a sample of 283 Dominican immigrants. Findings from a linear regression analysis revealed that experiences of daily racial discrimination and major racist events were significant predictors of acculturative stress after controlling for demographics, acculturation, and transnationalism. Findings from this study have implications for interventions with this understudied and underserved population given the evidence of the negative effect of discriminatory experiences.

Exploring Differences in Family Involvement and Depressive Symptoms across Latino Adolescent Groups

“…Other unique factors to consider regarding Dominicans is that they are more likely to be racialized than Mexicans and Central Americans due to their dark complexions, which can increase their chance of being targets of discrimination in the United States (Gomez, 2000;Rodriguez, 2000;Torres-Saillant & Hernandez, 1999). These racial experiences can negatively affect the experiences of Dominicans in the United States and may contribute to the Dominicans' reliance on family for support (Araujo Dawson & Panchanadeswaran, 2010).…”

Perceived discrimination and Latino youth adjustment: Examining the role of relinquished control and sociocultural influences.

“…For example, participants were asked to indicate how often [y]ou are treated with less respect than other people and how often [y]ou are threatened or harassed. The EDS has been utilized with Latino populations in previous research (Dawson & Panchanadeswaran, 2010;Molina, Alegría, & Mahalingam, 2013). For the current sample, internal reliability for the scaled items was .89.…”

Discrimination, acculturation, acculturative stress, and Latino psychological distress: A moderated mediational model.

“…Among Latinos, these stressors can involve acculturative stress, defined as the reactions to intercultural contact or the cultural adaptation process (Berry, 2006). Acculturative stressors can include the pressures of learning a new language, balancing differing cultural values, and having to broker between American and Latino ways of daily living (Araujo Dawson & Panchanadeswaran, 2010; Rodriguez, Myers, Bingham Mira, Flores, & Garcia-Hernandez, 2002). Among a sample of Dominican women, both daily discrimination and major racist events significantly predicted acculturative stress (Araujo Dawson & Panchanadeswaran, 2010).…”

“…Acculturative stressors can include the pressures of learning a new language, balancing differing cultural values, and having to broker between American and Latino ways of daily living (Araujo Dawson & Panchanadeswaran, 2010; Rodriguez, Myers, Bingham Mira, Flores, & Garcia-Hernandez, 2002). Among a sample of Dominican women, both daily discrimination and major racist events significantly predicted acculturative stress (Araujo Dawson & Panchanadeswaran, 2010). In turn, acculturative stress can result in psychological health problems (Moyerman & Forman, 1992; Williams & Berry, 1991).…”

“…Despite the evidence that perceived discrimination and acculturative stress are salient experiences in the daily lives of Latinos living in the United States, there remains limited research examining the relationship between these variables particularly as they relate to psychological distress (Araujo Dawson & Panchanadeswaran, 2010). Researchers have previously included discriminatory experiences as an aspect of acculturative stress both in terms of theoretical conceptualization and assessment (Alderete, Vega, Kolody, & Aguilar-Gaxiola, 1999; Finch et al, 2000).…”