Familialism, Social Support, and Stress: Positive Implications for Pregnant Latinas

Authors

Belinda Campos, University of California - Los AngelesFollow
Christine Dunkel Schetter, University of California - Los AngelesFollow
Cleopatra M. Abdou, University of California - Los AngelesFollow
Calvin J. Hobel, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Laura M. Glynn, Chapman UniversityFollow
Curt A. Sandman, University of California - IrvineFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2008

Abstract

This study examined the association of familialism, a cultural value that emphasizes close family relationships, with social Support, stress, pregnancy anxiety, and infant birth weight. Foreign-born Latina (n = 31), U.S.-born Latina (n = 68), and European American (n = 166) women living in the United States participated in a prospective study of pregnancy in which they completed measures of familialism, social support, stress, and pregnancy anxiety during their second trimester. As expected, Latinas scored higher on familialism than European Americans. Familialism was positively correlated with social support and negatively correlated with stress and pregnancy anxiety in the overall sample. As predicted, however, the associations of familialism with social support and stress were significantly stronger among Latinas than European Americans. Moreover, higher social Support was associated with higher infant birth weight among foreign-born Latinas; only. Implications of cultural values for relationships and health are discussed.

Comments

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, volume 14, in 2008 following peer review. This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record. DOI:10.1037/1099-9809.14.2.155

Recommended Citation

Campos B*, Dunkel Schetter C, Abdou C, Hobel CJ, Glynn LM & Sandman CA (2008). Familialism, social support, and stress: positive implications for pregnant latinas. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 155-162.
DOI:10.1037/1099-9809.14.2.155

Copyright

American Psychological Association