Navigating Cultural Stress and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study of Parent-Adolescent Dynamics Among Former Soviet Union Families.

Abstract

Introduction: Cultural stressors during migration can shape family dynamics and impact mental health outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between cultural stress, parent-adolescent communication, and psychological well-being among Former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrant families in Israel.

Methods: This longitudinal survey study collected data at three time points. The first wave of data collection occurred between June and August 2020, recruiting families across Israel through social media, word-of-mouth, and referrals. Analyses were conducted on a final sample of 160 FSU immigrant adolescents (aged 12-15) and their parents, after accounting for attrition across waves. We used maximum likelihood estimation so that cases with missing data could be retained in analysis. Surveys assessed cultural stressors, parent-adolescent communication, and mental health indicators (self-esteem, hope, anxiety, and depressive symptoms).

Results: Cultural distance was negatively associated with parental depressive symptoms but did not result in expected negative effects on adolescents. Parent-adolescent communication at Time 2 mediated the relationship between cultural stress and adolescent well-being. Additionally, discrimination experiences at Time 1 were positively associated with adolescents' hope at Time 3.

Conclusions: Despite the challenges posed by cultural stress, parent-adolescent communication emerged as a protective factor, and was associated with lower levels of mental health issues. These findings highlight the importance of familial communication to support the well-being of immigrant adolescents during acculturation.