Cultural risk & adaptation: Contributions to psychopathology by social position

Abstract

Culturally-influenced adaptation and maladaptation may influence college students' mental health across various forms of cultural identity (e.g., racial/ethnic identity, socioeconomic status [SES]). In this cross-sectional study, 925 college students (M_age = 19.9, 67% self-identified female, 64% White, 25% Hispanic/Latino, 69% middle class or below) responded to a one-time questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that cultural risk (insecurity, stress, discrimination) and adaptation (centrality, routine behaviors, motivation, resilience) were differentially associated with internalizing symptoms. Multigroup analyses by cultural identity subgroups indicated that cultural risk was associated with greater internalizing symptoms across all SES groups, but most salient for high SES students, and more strongly associated with anxiety among White students compared to racial/ethnically minoritized students. Cultural adaptation more saliently predicted internalizing symptoms for students with lower-middle/working-class SES identity. College students experience multi-faceted risk and adaptation related to their cultural identities, experiences of which are shaped by social position and differentially contribute to mental health.