Acculturation, Stressors, and Somatization Patterns Among Students From Extreme South Texas

Abstract

Data were presented to test aspects of a model relating health and acculturation as proposed by Cervantes and Castro. The model was tested with a sample of 844 high school and college students who varied in level of acculturation along a continuum from Mexican to Anglo orientation. Questionnaires were administered that assessed level of acculturation and comfort with acculturation status, potential stressors, general health, and headaches. Aspects of the model tested were that level of acculturation could function both as an external stressor and as an internal mediator to influence both one's appraisal of environmental stressors and somaticlhealth outcomes. The model was supported in that (a) level of acculturation and one's comfort with acculturation status were related to differences in appraisal of environmental stressors, and (b) level of acculturation was related to somatic outcome.