Acculturation conflict among Latino youth: Discrimination, ethnic identity, and depressive symptoms.

Abstract

Objectives Patterns of parent-adolescent conflict differ between immigrant and nonimmigrant families living in the United States (Fuligni, 1998). Despite this, there is limited empirical literature examining the nuanced nature of parent-adolescent conflict in immigrant families. To fill this gap, the current study examined the role of two types of conflict (i.e., general and acculturation) in predicting psychosocial outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms and ethnic identity) among Latino adolescents, and whether these relationships differ within the context of peer discrimination. Methods All survey administration was completed in the participating school’s cafeteria. The sample consisted of 7th–10th graders (n = 172) with a mean age of 14.01 years (SD = 1.32.) The sample consisted of 53% females, and was primarily Mexican in origin (78%). Results As hypothesized, parent-adolescent acculturation conflict uniquely predicted greater depressive symptoms and lower ethnic private regard, even when controlling for parent-adolescent general conflict. However, acculturation conflict predicted lower ethnic private regard only in the presence of greater peer discrimination. More specifically, peer discrimination moderated the relation between acculturation conflict and ethnic private regard such that adolescents who reported the highest levels of acculturation conflict and peer discrimination reported the lowest levels of ethnic private regard. Conclusions These results suggest that for Latino youth and their families, acculturation conflict may be particularly problematic, as compared to general conflict. In addition, youth who face ethnicity-based stressors in both familial and school contexts are especially at risk in their ethnic identity development.

Patterns of Dating Violence Victimization and Perpetration among Latino Youth

“…As expected, acculturation conflict was associated with increased risk for being in the psychologically aggressive victims class compared to the uninvolved class among boys (marginal association for girls) although, unexpectedly, this factor did not distinguish the multiform aggressive victims class from either of the other classes. Acculturation conflict and resultant stress may lead to internalizing and externalizing problems that put Latino youth at risk for experiencing and engaging in psychological dating violence (Huq et al 2016; Marsiglia et al 2009; Smokowski, David-Ferdon, et al 2009). Taken together, these findings suggest that parent acculturation and acculturation conflict may be unique sources of risk for Latino youth that should be targeted by Latino dating abuse prevention programs, although more research is needed to understand the mechanisms relating these factors to risk for involvement in different patterns of dating violence.…”

Ethnic–racial identity content and the development of depressive symptoms among Latino adolescents

“…In examining these associations, we accounted for the possibility that youth who are immigrants or children of immigrants would experience better psychological adjustment (i.e., fewer symptoms and declining symptomatology over time), based on previous findings in this regard (e.g., Potochnick & Perreira, 2010). Previous research has also shown gender to be a potentially important factor in the prevalence of depression among Latino adolescents (e.g., Huq, Stein, & Gonzalez, 2017); thus, in our analyses, we accounted for the role of gender on initial levels of and change over time in depressive symptoms.…”

Examining the service‐related experiences and outcomes of caregivers involved in a system of care who experienced everyday discrimination

“…Different contexts exert different demands on ethnic and minority parents that need to be better understood (García Coll & Pachter, ). Prior research discusses the potential impacts of acculturation, or cultural adaptation, on family life (Bostean & Gillespie, ; Huq, Stein, & Gonzalez, ). For instance, greater acculturation among families of Mexican descent has been linked to increased involvement with social support services outside of the home, whereas internal family system values (e.g., cohesion, conflict) remained the same (García Coll & Pachter, ).…”

“…However, as children grow older and become exposed to more systems outside of the home, families learn about more dominant cultural values and expectations to which they may feel pressured to adapt (García Coll & Pachter, ). Whereas some traditional parenting practices may be retained in this process (e.g., disciplinary practices), others may be relinquished, which may contribute to confusion, alienation, stress, and family conflict (Bostean & Gillespie, ; García Coll & Pachter, ; Huq et al., ). Thus, findings from this study contribute to this literature by suggesting that frequent family engagement with service systems serving older children may be linked to the “stressor pileup” experienced among minority families associated with the process of cultural adaptation (Murry, Brown, Brody, Cutrona, & Simons, ).…”