Children of Latino-origin immigrants are the fastest growing sector of the US child population (Passel, 2011). Thus, it is important to examine how experiences in a country that is not the family's country of origin impinges on youth development. The proposed study seeks to examine how parent-youth acculturation differences (AD) among Latino immigrant families are directly and indirectly linked to youth emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning. Research examining the AD-youth outcomes relationship has rendered mixed findings (Telzer, 2010). Some work indicates a problematic association between AD on youth socio-emotional (Schofield, Parke, Kim, Coltrane, 2008), substance use (Marsiglia, Nagoshi, Parsai, Booth, & Castro, 2014), and behavioral (Szapocznik, Santisteban, Kurtines, Ferez-Vidal & Hervis, 1984) outcomes, while other work does not. Several methodological, conceptual, and measurement limitations have been noted in the current body of work. To reconcile these inconsistencies this study seeks to examine longitudinally: (1) how AD affects family processes that are central to youth development and are salient for immigrant families; (2) how AD affects youth emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning; and (3) how AD indirectly affects youth development through its effects on family processes. A sample of 450 Latino immigrant families will be recruited from high schools in the Central California area. Data will be collected every year for three years from these families on: parent and youth dimensions of acculturation (i.e., cultural values, identity, and language use); family processes that are important for youth development in general (i.e., parental monitoring, communication, and cohesion) and those that are salient among immigrant families (i.e., language brokering and parentification); and youth socio-emotional well-being, risk behaviors, academic achievement, and self-regulation. This study is positioned to make several important contributions to this area of research by: using a multidimensional approach in the measurement of acculturation; examining the longitudinal ramifications of AD on youth development; utilizing a statistically novel approach (latent- difference score analyses) to calculate the AD; identifying specific family processes that serve as mechanisms of influence in the AD-youth outcomes relationship; and informing future prevention efforts geared towards improving the well-being and reducing health disparities among Latino immigrant youth.
Parent-youth acculturation differences (AD) have been linked, albeit inconsistently, to problematic youth health behaviors such as: tobacco use (Elder et al., 2005), risky sexual practices (Schwartz, 2012), and substance use (Martinez, 2006). What remains unclear and necessitates further examination is the role family processes play in AD-youth outcomes relationship. The proposed study is poised to contribute greatly in the understanding of how the family unit can be used as a mechanism of influence in the AD-youth outcomes relationship to promote positive health and development among 2nd generation immigrant Latino youth.
