(PS4-58) Intercultural Competence as a Protective Factor Against Psychological Distress and Acculturative Stress Among U.S. Latinxs

Abstract Text: Acculturative stress—stress responses to cultural adaptation— adversely influences Latinx psychological adjustment (Driscoll & Torres, 2013; Liem et al., 2021; Soufi Amlashi et al., 2024; Torres, 2010; Torres et al., 2012; Torres & Rollock, 2011). Intercultural competence—the ability to successfully navigate between cultures—may potentially buffer the acculturative stress-psychological distress relationship (Driscoll & Torres, 2020; Leung et al., 2014; Torres & Rollock, 2011). However, it remains unclear whether intercultural competence specifically protects against cultural stressors or if they also protect against general life stress. This study used cultural stress theory framework to examine whether intercultural competence moderates the relationship between 1) acculturative stress and psychological distress, and 2) perceived stress and psychological distress among U.S. Latinxs (Meca & Schwartz, 2024).

Latinx adults (n = 126, M age = 33.41 years, SD = 12.03; 77% female; 27% Mexican American; 73% bachelor’s or higher) completed online self-report measures of intercultural competence, acculturative stress, psychological distress, and perceived general life stress. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses examined the relationships between 1) intercultural competence and acculturative stress on psychological distress, and 2) intercultural competence and perceived stress on psychological distress.

The full model for intercultural competence and acculturative stress predicting psychological distress was significant, adjusted R2 = 0.28, F (1, 113) = 8.80, p = 0.004. Although acculturative stress significantly predicted higher psychological distress (β = .40, SE = 1.26, t = 4.88, p < .001), intercultural competence did not. Importantly, the interaction of intercultural competence and acculturative stress was significant (β = -.24, SE = 2.69, t = -2.97, p = .004). Simple slope analysis (Aiken & West, 1991) indicated the relationship between acculturative stress and psychological distress was significant at low levels of intercultural competence (β = 0.59, SE =1.42, t = 6.40, p < .001), but not at high levels of intercultural competence (β = 0.21, SE =1.78, t = 1.82, p = .07). In contrast, the full model for intercultural competence and perceived stress predicting psychological distress was not significant, adjusted R2 = 0.39, F (1, 113) = 3.30, p = 0.07. Perceived stress significantly predicted psychological distress (β = .59, SE = 0.09, t = 7.51, p < .001), but intercultural competence did not. The interaction of perceived stress and intercultural competence was not significant.

The results suggest intercultural competence moderates the acculturative stress-psychological distress severity relationship for Latinxs, such that intercultural competence buffers against psychological distress even at high acculturative stress. Thus, intercultural competence may serve as a protective factor for cultural—but not general life— stressors. Results are further discussed in the context of culturally responsive therapeutic interventions that promote intercultural competence and protect against the adverse influence of acculturative stress and psychological distress among U.S. Latinxs.