Lozano Alyssa, Scott Dalton, Fernandez-Branson Carolina, Estrada Yannine, Ragavan Maya I, Lebron Cynthia N, Prado Guillermo
School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, 5030 Brunson Drive, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
Department of Professional Communication, School of Communication, Writing and the Arts, Metropolitan State University, St Paul, MN, 55106, USA.
J Immigr Minor Health. 2025 Jun;27(3):450-457. doi: 10.1007/s10903-025-01676-z. Epub 2025 Mar 14.
Language is our primary tool for communication and a salient component of acculturation status among Hispanic populations. Importantly, language is associated with behavioral health outcomes and can identify and confront health disparities among Hispanic adolescents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between adolescent language identity and drug use and depressive symptoms and examine parent-adolescent communication and parent language identity as mediators and moderators, respectively, of this association. We conducted a secondary data analysis (N = 746) of a study evaluating the effectiveness of a family-based intervention to prevent drug use and condomless sex among Hispanic adolescents. We evaluated whether adolescent language identity (i.e., Spanish or English) predicted (1) past 90-day drug use and (2) symptoms of anxiety and depression 30-months post-baseline and whether this relationship was mediated by parent-adolescent communication. We also examined whether the mediational pathway was moderated by parent language identity. English language identity was positively associated with past 90-day drug use and this association was mediated by parent-adolescent communication. The mediational pathway was not moderated by parent language identity. There was not a statistically significant association between English language use and anxiety/depression. However, this association was mediated by parent-adolescent communication. The mediational pathway was not moderated by parent language identity. Hispanic adolescents with an English language identity may have a greater propensity for drug use. Results emphasize the importance of promoting biculturalism and considering parent and adolescent language and communication when developing culturally syntonic interventions for Hispanic adolescents.
语言是我们交流的主要工具，也是西班牙裔人群文化适应状况的一个显著组成部分。重要的是，语言与行为健康结果相关联，并且能够识别和应对西班牙裔青少年中的健康差异。本研究的目的是评估青少年语言认同与药物使用及抑郁症状之间的关联，并分别考察亲子沟通和父母语言认同作为这种关联的中介和调节因素。我们对一项评估基于家庭的干预措施预防西班牙裔青少年药物使用和无保护性行为有效性的研究进行了二次数据分析（N = 746）。我们评估了青少年语言认同（即西班牙语或英语）是否预测了（1）过去90天的药物使用情况以及（2）基线后30个月的焦虑和抑郁症状，以及这种关系是否由亲子沟通介导。我们还考察了这种中介途径是否受到父母语言认同的调节。英语语言认同与过去90天的药物使用呈正相关，并且这种关联由亲子沟通介导。中介途径不受父母语言认同的调节。英语语言使用与焦虑/抑郁之间没有统计学上的显著关联。然而，这种关联由亲子沟通介导。中介途径不受父母语言认同的调节。具有英语语言认同的西班牙裔青少年可能有更高的药物使用倾向。研究结果强调了促进双文化主义以及在为西班牙裔青少年制定文化适配干预措施时考虑父母和青少年的语言及沟通的重要性。
