Susanna Luu

Abstract

Adapting to a new culture is a stressful experience for some ethnic minorities. Lower acculturation in ethnic minorities is related to high levels of stress. Parents of children with developmental delays (DD) typically experience high levels of stress, particularly parenting stress. Therefore, ethnic minority families of children with development delays may be at risk for especially high levels of parenting stress due to the additive stress of adapting to a new culture. Currently, there is uncertainty within the field about the relationship between acculturation and parenting stress given that studies have found both low and high levels of acculturation to be associated with high levels of parenting stress. Thus, acculturation may ameliorate or exacerbate the parenting stress experienced by minority families of children with DD. In the current study, we explored the impact of acculturation on parents of children with DD as well as investigated family support as a potential moderator of this relationship. Our results indicated that the effect of acculturation on parenting stress depended on the level of family support. More specifically, low levels of acculturation were associated with increased parenting stress and family support did moderate this relationship. Further investigation in other forms of social support that may help to explain this relationship is the necessary next step in deeper understanding.

LLU Discipline

Clinical Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Neece, Cameron L.

Second Advisor

Betancourt, Hector M.

Third Advisor

Jenkins, Louis E.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2013

Date (Title Page)

12-2013

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Developmental Disabilities - Child; Stress - Psychological; Parenting; Family Relations; Acculturation

Subject - Local

Parenting Stress; Minority Populations; Family Support;

Type

Thesis

Page Count

41

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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