Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among Young Adult Hispanic Immigrants: Moderating and Mediating Effects of Distinct Facets of Acculturation Stress

Abstract

Hispanic immigrants experience more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depressive symptom chronicity/severity than non-Hispanic peers. Acculturation stress relates to both depressive symptoms and ACEs, but the mechanism is not well-understood. We conducted a secondary data analysis of baseline data, from an ongoing longitudinal study to test theoretically-based mediating and moderating effects of acculturation stress on the relationship between ACEs and depression in a sample of young adult Hispanic immigrants (<i>N</i> = 391). Results indicated ACEs predicted depressive symptoms. Mediation and moderation effects were significant for cumulative and distinct facets of acculturation stress. Implications for mental health nurses are discussed.