Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T13:00:54.827Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mother-Youth Acculturation Gaps and Health-Risking/Emotional Problems among Latin-American Adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2015

Margit Wiesner ,
Consuelo Arbona ,
Deborah M. Capaldi ,
Hyoun K. Kim  and
Charles D. Kaplan
Margit Wiesner*
Affiliation:
University of Houston (USA)
Consuelo Arbona
Affiliation:
University of Houston (USA)
Deborah M. Capaldi
Affiliation:
Oregon Social Learning Center (USA)
Hyoun K. Kim
Affiliation:
Oregon Social Learning Center (USA)
Charles D. Kaplan
Affiliation:
University of Southern California (USA)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be Margit Wiesner, Ph.D., University of Houston. Department of Educational Psychology. 491 Farish Hall. Houston, TX (USA). 77204–5029. Phone: 713–7435031. Fax: 713–7434996. Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Second-generation Latin-American adolescents tend to show higher levels of various health-risking behaviors and emotional problems than first-generation Latin-American adolescents. This cross-sectional study of 40 mother-adolescent dyads examined the association of mother-youth acculturation gaps to youth adjustment problems. Intergenerational acculturation gaps were assessed as a bidimensional self-report component and a novel observational measurement component. The Latin-American adolescents were predominantly second-generation of Mexican descent (M age = 13.42 years, SD = 0.55). Most of the mothers were born in Mexico (M age = 39.18 years, SD = 5.17). Data were collected from mothers, adolescents, and coders, using questionnaires, structured interviews, and videotaped mother-youth interaction tasks. Findings revealed generally weak support for the acculturation gap-distress hypothesis. In addition, stronger relative adherence to their heritage culture by the adolescents was significantly (p < .05, ES = 0.15) related to less engagement in early health-risking sexual behaviors, possibly reflecting selective acculturation processes. Mother-youth acculturation gaps in orientation to the heritage culture were the most salient dimension, changing the focus on the original formulation of the acculturation gap-distress hypothesis.

Keywords

acculturationadolescentsemotional problemshealth-risking behaviorslatin-american
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 18 , 2015 , E52
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA School-Age Forms and Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families.Google Scholar
Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2007). Multicultural supplement to the manual for the ASEBA School-Age Forms and Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families.Google Scholar
Adam, M. B., McGuire, J. K., Walsh, M., Basta, J., & LeCroy, C. (2005). Acculturation as a predictor of the onset of sexual intercourse among Hispanic and white teens. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 159, 261–265. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.159.3.261 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arbona, C., Kim, H. K., Capaldi, D. M., & Wiesner, M. (2013). Brief Report: Relation of observed and self-reported acculturation gap, parental monitoring and relationship quality among Latino adolescent-mother dyads. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Ayers, S. L., Kulis, S., & Marsiglia, F. F. (2013). The impact of ethno racial appearance on substance use in Mexican heritage adolescents in the Southwest United States. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 35, 227–240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0739986312467940 Google Scholar
Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaption. Applied Psychology, 46, 5–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.1997.tb01087.x Google Scholar
Birman, D. (2006). Measurement of the “acculturation gap” in immigrant families and implications for parent-child relationships. In Bornstein, M. H. & Cote, L. R. (Eds.), Acculturation and parent-child relationships: Measurement and development (pp. 113–134). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capaldi, D. M., Forgatch, M. S., & Crosby, L. (1994). Affective expression in family problem solving discussions with adolescent boys: The association with family structure and function. Journal of Adolescent Research, 9, 28–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capaldi, D. M., Metzler, C., Ary, D., & Noell, J. (1991). Sex Survey, 1–6. (Unpublished Instrument). Available from: OSLC, 10 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., Eugene, OR 97401.Google Scholar
Cavanagh, S. E. (2007). Peers, drinking, and the assimilation of Mexican American youth. Sociological Perspectives, 50, 393–416. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/sop.2007.50.3.393 Google Scholar
Céspedes, Y. M., & Huey, S. J. Jr. (2008). Depression in Latino adolescents: A cultural discrepancy perspective. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 168–172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1099-9809.14.2.168 Google Scholar
Codina, G. E., & Montalvo, F. F. (1994). Chicano phenotype and depression. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 16, 296–306. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/07399863940163007 Google Scholar
Codina, G. E., Yin, Z., Katims, D. S., & Zapata, J. T. (1998). Marijuana use and academic achievement among Mexicna American school-age students: Underlying psychosocial and behavioral characteristics. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 7, 79–96.Google Scholar
Cohen, J. (1983). The cost of dichotomization. Applied Psychological Measurement, 7, 249–253. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/014662168300700301 Google Scholar
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd Ed.), Hillsdale, NJ: LEA.Google Scholar
Crockett, L. J., Randall, B. A., Shen, Y. -L., Russell, S. T., & Driscoll, A. K. (2005). Measurement equivalence of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Latino and Anglo adolescents: A national study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 47–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.73.1.47 Google Scholar
Cuéllar, I., Arnold, B., & Maldonado, R. (1995). Acculturation rating scale for Mexican Americans-II: A revision of the original ARSMA scale. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 17, 275–304.Google Scholar
DiClemente, R. J., & Crosby, R. A. (2003). Sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents: Risk factors, antecedents, and prevention strategies. In Adams, G. R. & Berzonsky, M. D. (Eds.), Blackwell handbook of adolescence (pp. 573–605). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470756607.ch27 Google Scholar
Domenech Rodriguez, M., Davies, M. R., Rodriguez, J., & Bares, S. C. (2006). Observed parenting practices of first-generation Latino families. Journal of Community Psychology, 34, 133–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elder, J. P., Broyles, S. L., Brennan, J. J., Zúniga de Nuncio, M. L., & Nader, P. R. (2005). Acculturation, parent-child acculturation differential, and chronic disease risk factors in a Mexican-American population. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 7, 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-005-1385-x Google Scholar
Elliott, D. S. (1983). Interview schedule. National youth survey. Boulder, CO: Behavioral Research Institute.Google Scholar
Farrington, D. P., Jolliffe, D., Hawkins, J. D., Catalano, R., Hill, K. G., & Kosterman, R. (2003). Comparing delinquency careers in court records and self-reports. Criminology, 41, 933–958. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9125.2003.tb01009.x Google Scholar
Felix-Ortiz, M., Fernandez, A., & Newcomb, M. D. (1998). The role of intergenerational discrepancy of cultural orientation in drug use among Latina adolescents. Substance Use & Misuse, 33, 967–994. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10826089809056251 Google Scholar
Fergusson, D. M., & Woodward, L. J. (2002). Mental health, educational, and social role outcomes of adolescents with depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 59, 225–231. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.59.3.225 Google Scholar
Galaif, E. R., Newcomb, M. D., Vega, W. A., & Krell, R. D. (2007). Protective and risk influences of drug use among a multiethnic sample of adolescent boys. Journal of Drug Education, 37, 249–276. http://dx.doi.org/10.2190/DE.37.3.c CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guilamo-Ramos, V., Bouris, A., Jaccard, J., Lesesne, C., & Ballan, M. (2009). Familial and cultural influences on sexual risk behaviors among Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Dominican youth. AIDS Education and Prevention, 21, Supplement B, 61–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2009.21.5_supp.61 Google Scholar
Guilamo-Ramos, V., Dittus, P., Jaccard, J., Johansson, M., Bouris, A., & Acosta, N. (2007). Parenting practices among Dominican and Puerto Rican mothers. Social Work, 52, 17–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sw/52.1.17 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guarnaccia, P. J., & Lopez, S. R. (1998). The mental health and adjustment of immigrant and refugee children. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 7, 537–553.Google Scholar
Huizinga, D., & Elliott, D. E. (1986). Reassessing the reliability and validity of self-report delinquency measures. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 2, 293–327.Google Scholar
Huizinga, D., Loeber, R., & Thornberry, T. P. (1993). Longitudinal study of delinquency, drug use, sexual activity and pregnancy among children and youth in three cities. Public Health Reports, 108, 90–96.Google Scholar
Hwang, W. C. (2006). Acculturative family distancing: Theory, research, and clinical practice. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 43, 397–409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.397 Google Scholar
Johnston, L., O’Malley, P., & Bachman, J. (2000). Monitoring the Future: National survey results on drug use, 1975–1999 (NIH Publication No. 00–4802) . Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.Google Scholar
Lau, A. S., McCabe, K. M., Yeh, M., Garland, A. F., Wood, P. A., & Hough, R. L. (2005). The acculturation gap-distress hypothesis among high-risk Mexican American families. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 367–375. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.19.3.367 Google Scholar
Lee, J., & Hahm, H. C. (2010). Acculturation and sexual risk behaviors among Latina adolescents transitioning to young adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 414–427. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9495-8 Google Scholar
Livas Stein, G., & Polo, A. J. (2014). Parent-child cultural value gaps and depressive symptoms among Mexican American youth. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23, 189–199. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9724-3 Google Scholar
Love, A. S., Yin, Z., Codina, E., & Zapata, J. T. (2006). Ethnic identity and risky health behaviors in school-age Mexican-American children. Psychological Reports, 98, 735–744. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pr0.98.3.735-744 Google Scholar
Marsiglia, F. F., Kulis, S., FitzHarris, B., & Becerra, D. (2009). Acculturation gaps and problem behaviors among U.S. Southwestern Mexican youth. Social Work Forum, 42–43, 6–26.Google ScholarPubMed
Marsiglia, F. F., Kulis, S., Hecht, M., & Sills, S. (2004). Ethnicity and ethnic identity as predictors of drug norms and drug use among preadolescents in the US Southwest. Substance Use & Misuse, 39, 1061–1094. http://dx.doi.org/10.1081/JA-120038030 Google Scholar
Martinez, C. R. Jr. (2005). Youth Substance Use-Youth Report (unpublished instrument). Available from OSLC, 10 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., Eugene, OR 97401.Google Scholar
Martinez, C. R. Jr. (2006). Effects of differential family acculturation on Latino adolescent substance use. Family Relations, 55, 306–317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00404.x Google Scholar
Martinez, W., Polo, A. J., & Carter, J. S. (2012). Family orientation, language, and anxiety among low-income Latino youth. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26, 517–525. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.02.005 Google Scholar
Maxfield, M. G., Weiler, B. L., & Widom, C. S. (2000). Comparing self-reports and official records of arrests. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 16, 87–110.Google Scholar
McNulty Eitle, T., Gonzalez Wahl, A. -M., & Aranda, E. (2009). Immigrant generation, selective acculturation, and alcohol use among Latina/o adolescents. Social Science Research, 38, 732–742. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.01.006 Google Scholar
Newcomb, M. D., & Bentler, P. M. (1988). Consequences of adolescent drug use: Impact on the lives of young adults. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Pasch, L. A., Deardorff, J., Tschann, J. M., Flores, E., Penilla, C., & Pantoja, P. (2006). Acculturation, parent-adolescent conflict, and adolescent adjustment in Mexican American families. Family Process, 45, 75–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2006.00081.x Google Scholar
Patterson, G. R., & Moore, D. R. (1979). Interactive patterns as units of behavior. In Lamb, M. E., Suomi, S. J., & Stevenson, G. R. (Eds.), Social interaction analysis: Methodological issues (pp. 77–96). Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin.Google Scholar
Peña, J. B., Wyman, P. A., Brown, C. H., Matthieu, M. M., Olivares, T. E., Hartel, D., & Zayas, L. H. (2008). Immigration generation status and its association with suicide attempts, substance use, and depressive symptoms among Latino adolescents in the USA. Prevention Science, 9, 299–310.Google Scholar
Polo, A., & Lopez, S. (2009). Culture, context, and the internalizing distress of Mexican American youth. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 38, 273–285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374410802698370 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Portes, A., & Rumbaut, R. G. (2001). Legacies: The story of the immigrant second generation. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.Google Scholar
Prado, G., Huang, S., Schwartz, S. J., Maldonado-Molina, M. M., Bandiera, F. C., de la Rosa, M., & Pantin, H. (2009). What accounts for differences in substance use among U.S. born and Foreign born Hispanic adolescents?: Results from a longitudinal prospective cohort study with a nationally representative sample of Hispanic adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45, 118–125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pumariega, A. J., Rothe, E., & Pumariega, J. B. (2005). Mental health of immigrants and refugees. Community Mental Health Journal, 41, 581–597. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10597-005-6363-1 Google Scholar
Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A Self-Report Depression Scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/014662167700100306 Google Scholar
Roberts, R. E., Andrews, J. A., Lewinsohn, P. M., & Hops, H. (1990). Assessment of depression in adolescents using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Psychological Assessment, 2, 122–128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.2.2.122 Google Scholar
Schofield, T., Beaumont, K., Widaman, K., Jochem, R., Robins, R., & Conger, R. (2012). Parent and child fluency in a common language: Implications for the parent-child relationship and later academic success in Mexican-American families. Journal of Family Psychology, 26, 869–879. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0030423 Google Scholar
Schofield, T. J., Parke, R. D., Kim, Y., & Coltrane, S. (2008). Bridging the acculturation gap: Parent-child relationship quality as a moderator in Mexican American families. Developmental Psychology, 44, 1190–1194. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0012529 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schwartz, S. J., Unger, J. B., Zamboanga, B. L., & Szapoczmik, J. (2010). Rethinking the concept of acculturation: Implications for theory and research. American Psychologist, 65, 237–251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0019330 Google Scholar
Smokowski, P. R., Roderick, R., & Bacallao, M. L. (2008). Acculturation and Latino family processes: How cultural involvement, biculturalism, and acculturation gaps influence family dynamics. Family Relations, 57, 295–308. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00501.x Google Scholar
Szapocnik, J., & Kurtines, W. (1993). Family psychology and cultural diversity: Opportunities for theory, research, and application. American Psychologist, 48, 400–407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.48.4.400 Google Scholar
Szapocnik, J., & Williams, R. A. (2000). Brief strategic family therapy: Twenty-five years of interplay among theory, research, and practice in adolescent behavior problems and drug abuse. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 3, 117–134.Google Scholar
Telzer, E. H. (2010). Expanding the acculturation gap-distress model: An integrative review of research. Human Development, 53, 313–340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000322476 Google Scholar
Unger, J. B., Ritt-Olson, A., Soto, D. W., & Baezonde-Garbanati, L. (2009). Parent-child acculturation discrepancies as a risk factor for substance use among Hispanic adolescents in Southern California. Journal of Immigrant Minority Health, 11, 149–157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-007-9083-5 Google Scholar
Vega, W. A., Kolody, B., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alderete, E., Catalano, R., & Caraveo-Anduaga, J. (1998). Lifetime prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders among urban and rural Mexican Americans in California. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55, 771–778. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.55.9.771 Google Scholar
Yoon, E., Langrehr, K., & Ong, L. Z. (2011). Content analysis of acculturation research in counseling and counseling psychology: A 22 year review. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 83–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0021128 Google Scholar
Zucker, E., & Howes, C. (2009). Respectful relationships: Socialization goals and practices among Mexican mothers. Infant Mental Health Journal, 30, 501–522. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20226 Google Scholar