Mexican‐origin youths’ language brokering for fathers and mothers: Daily experiences and youths’ diurnal cortisol slopes

Abstract

This study examined the associations of language brokering stress intensity and exposure with Mexican‐origin youths’ cortisol responses when brokering for fathers and mothers, and the moderating role of youths’ brokering efficacy in these relations. Participants were 289 adolescents (Mage = 17.38, SD = .94, 52% girls) in immigrant families. When brokering for mothers, stress exposure was related to flatter (less healthy) same‐day diurnal slopes in youth. When brokering for fathers, daily brokering efficacy buffered the detrimental link between stress intensity and youths’ same‐day cortisol slopes. When brokering for fathers/mothers, stress intensity and exposure were related to flatter (less healthy) next‐day diurnal slopes. Although daily brokering stress can relate to youth physiologic functioning, feeling efficacious about brokering may buffer the negative ramifications of stress.