Cultural Strengths of Latino-American Subgroups: Differential Associations With Their Self-Rated Mental and Physical Health

• Published in: Journal of cross-cultural psychology Vol. 48; no. 9; pp. 1349 - 1368
• Main Authors: Ai, Amy L., Carretta, Henry J., Aisenberg, Eugene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-10-2017; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Asian American people; Cultural factors; Cultural identity; Discrimination; Ethnic groups; Ethnic identity; Ethnicity; Health status; Hispanic Americans; Latin American cultural groups; Mental health; Mexican Americans; Minority groups; Psychologists; Puerto Ricans; Racial identity; Religiosity; Religious participation; Self evaluation; Social identity; Social support; self-rated physical and mental health; discrimination and acculturation; racial/ethnic identity; religious involvement; Latino American subgroups in the NLAAS
• ISSN: 0022-0221; 1552-5422
• DOI: 10.1177/0022022117723528

Few studies have examined subgroup differences regarding the role of collective cultural strengths among Latinos, the largest minority population in the United States today. Based on cultural and social psychologists’ emphasis on their importance to minorities, this study explored the association of three cultural factors with self-reported mental and physical health for three Latino subgroups identified in the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). Relative to Cubans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans experienced poorer physical health and, not surprisingly, more religious involvement. Cubans reported stronger ethnic identity and social support (SS) and were socioeconomically more affluent compared with both Puerto Ricans and Mexicans. Multivariate analyses revealed positive effects of religious attendance on the mental and physical health of Puerto Ricans, controlling for the negative role of discrimination and other known predictors. Racial/ethnic identity was linked with better mental health of all three Latino subgroups, whereas SS had no significant effect.