Original Articles

Stress, Social Support, and Mental Health Among Young Adult Hispanics

Guntzviller, Lisa M. PhD; Williamson, Lillie D. MA; Ratcliff, Chelsea L. MA

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Dr Guntzviller and Ms Williamson); and University of Utah, Salt Lake City (Ms Ratcliff).

Correspondence: Lisa M. Guntzviller, PhD, Department of Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3001 Lincoln Hall, 702 S. Wright St, Urbana, IL 61801 ([email protected]).

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Family & Community Health 43(1):p 82-91, January/March 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/FCH.0000000000000224

Abstract

National health goals include assessing and improving mental health in understudied US populations. We surveyed 274 individuals (18-35 years old) of Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin residing in the United States. Participants reported poor general mental health compared with Healthy People goals. Stress was negatively associated and perceived supportive communication was positively associated with mental health. A 3-way interaction showed perceived supportive communication mitigated the negative effect of stress on mental health, and perceptions of tangible support without supportive communication degraded overall mental health. Theoretical and practical implications for social support and Hispanic population mental health are discussed.