Defense Date
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Rosalie Corona, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Dr. Oswaldo Moreno, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Dr. Gabriela León-Pérez, Ph.D.
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by increased vulnerability to mental health challenges. For Latino adolescents living in the U.S., experiences of bicultural stress may heighten the risk for adverse mental health outcomes. However, cultural strengths–such as youth ethnic identity and parental familismo–may serve as protective factors. The current study examined whether youth ethnic identity and parental familismo moderated the relationship between bicultural stress and internalizing symptoms among a diverse sample of Latino youth in central Virginia. Latino adolescents (n = 60) completed measures assessing bicultural stress, ethnic identity, and internalizing symptoms, while parents (n = 60) reported on familismo values. Gender diverse youth (n = 3) were excluded from analyses, resulting in a final sample of 57 adolescents. Bivariate correlation analyses indicated that bicultural stress was positively associated with both internalizing symptoms and parental familismo values. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that while bicultural stress significantly predicted internalizing symptoms after controlling for youth gender and age, neither youth ethnic identity nor parental familismo moderated this association. These findings, their implications, and suggestions for future research promoting Latino youth mental health are provided.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
3-5-2026