Latino Family Acculturation, Conflicting Cultural Values, and Family Disruption
Problem behaviors and disruption related to acculturation are disturbingly prevalent in immigrant youths and families. Family disruption and cultural values are significant factors influencing the acculturation process and adolescent problem behaviors in Latinos. This research examined conflicting cultural values that affect risk for family disruption among Latino families undergoing adaptation to a new culture (acculturation). Participation were Latino families undergoing adaptation to a new culture (acculturation). Participants were 74 Latino Adolescent-mother dyads recruited from two higher education institutions on the U.S.-Mexico border. This study assessed the relationship between adolescent cultural values (traditionalistic vs. individualistic) and their perceptions of family disruption. Individualistic adolescent values increased adolescent perception of communication (r=.24, p<.05) and behavior control (r=.24, p<.05) problems in the family. Traditionalistic adolescent values increased adolescent perception of family communication (r=-.30, p<.05) and problem solving (r=-.33, p<.05) functioning. The study also assessed the relationship between adolescent-mother cultural value gaps and adolescent perception of family disruption. The larger the discrepancies between adolescent-mother individualism, the higher the adolescent perception of behavior control problems (r=.26, p<.05). Moreover, the larger the discrepancy between adolescent-mother traditionalism, the higher the adolescent perception of behavior control (r=-.27, p<.05) and role conflict (r=-.24, p<.05) in the family. In addition, this study assessed to what degree adolescent values are influenced by adolescent acculturation level/generation and/or mothers' cultural value-orientation. Mother's cultural value-orientation significantly influenced adolescent's individualistic (r=.38, p<.05) and traditionalistic (r=.19, p<.05) value-orientations. The results suggest that mother's cultural values are particularly relevant to Latino adolescent's cultural values and perception of family functioning. In addition, the results provide evidence for the need to examine Latino acculturation at both the individual and the family level.
School:
University of Texas at San Antonio
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
Jorge Ramirez
Department of Research Advisor:
Clinical / Community Psychology
Year of Publication:
2003