Language Brokering and Depressive Symptoms in Mexican‐American Adolescents: Parent–Child Alienation and Resilience as Moderators

Abstract

The current study aimed to untangle the mixed effects of language brokering by examining a contextual factor (i.e., parent-child alienation) and a personal attribute (i.e., resilience) that may relate to adolescents’ feelings during translating (i.e., sense of burden and efficacy) and that may moderate the association between such feelings and adolescent depressive symptoms. Participants included 557 adolescent language brokers (Mage = 12.96) in Mexican-American families. Results showed that adolescents with a strong sense of alienation from parents or low resilience a) experienced more burden or less efficacy in translating, and b) were more susceptible to the detrimental effects of feeling a sense of burden and the beneficial effects of experiencing a sense of efficacy, as measured by depressive symptoms.

Culture's Influence on Stressors, Parental Socialization, and Developmental Processes in the Mental Health of Children of Immigrants

“…Children may assist in the resettlement process of their immigrant families by functioning as language brokers. Language brokers are children who translate, both linguistically and culturally, for their English-limited parents, thereby playing an important role as intermediaries between their parents and the larger society (Kim et al 2017). Language brokering is a common activity performed by 71-89% of children in immigrant families (Chao 2006).…”

“…However, language brokering can also be protective, especially in the presence of risk. Specifically, Mexican American adolescents who appraise their language brokering experience as more efficacious are less likely to experience depressive symptoms when they are more at risk (i.e., when they have a high sense of alienation with regard to their parents or a low sense of personal resilience) (Kim et al 2017).…”

‘I had to stifle my feelings’ – Bilingual health professionals translating for family members in a healthcare setting. A qualitative study

“…Studies have also examined the impact of language brokering experienced by children who have been interpreting for many years in the healthcare system 10,11,12. As far back as the 1970s, Harris and Sherwood 13 described the consequences of language brokering by children.…”

“…As far back as the 1970s, Harris and Sherwood 13 described the consequences of language brokering by children. Being a broker for the family during childhood can affect children’s and adolescents’ cognitive and emotional conditions and in many situations lead to an increase in incidence of depression 11,14. Additionally, serious anxiety and social isolation 15,16 have also been described in this population.…”

Profiles of Language Brokering Experiences and Contextual Stressors: Implications for Adolescent Outcomes in Mexican Immigrant Families

“…One line of research has demonstrated the generally detrimental effects of contextual stressors (e.g., economic stress, discrimination, and foreigner stress) on adolescent adjustment (Armenta et al, 2013; Benner, 2017; Parke et al, 2004). The other line of work suggests that language brokering experiences are multifaceted and that different aspects of brokering can relate to distinct adolescent outcomes (Kam & Lazarevic, 2014b; Kim, Hou, & Gonzalez, 2017). For example, among Mexican American adolescents, positive language brokering experiences relate to more favorable adolescent adjustment, whereas negative language experiences relate to adolescent maladjustment (Kam, 2011; Kam & Lazarevic, 2014b; Kim, Hou, & Gonzalez, 2017).…”