Effects of Differential Family Acculturation on Latino Adolescent Substance Use*

Abstract: This study examined links between parent‐youth differential acculturation and youth substance‐use likelihood in a sample of 73 recently immigrated Latino families with middle‐school‐aged youth. Multiple agents were utilized to assess family functioning and youth outcomes. Findings suggested that a greater level of differential acculturation between parents and youth was associated with greater likelihood of future youth substance use. However, the relationship between differential acculturation and youth substance use was mediated by family stress processes and effective parenting practices. Differential acculturation was related to increases in family stress and decreases in effective parenting practices, and each of these, in turn, was related to increases in future substance‐use likelihood among Latino youth. Findings implicate the need for advancing policies and practices that address acculturation as a family process, rather than as merely an individual psychological phenomenon.     

The Influence of Family Functioning and Parent‐Adolescent Acculturation on North American Chinese Adolescent Outcomes

Abstract: The present study investigated the associations between family functioning, acculturation between parents and their adolescents, and adolescent adjustment problems. Chinese adolescents and their parents (N= 41) living in the United States and Canada participated in this study. Results showed that differences in acculturation between parents and adolescents were related to adolescent depression and that family functioning was related to both depression and delinquency. Both parental and adolescent acculturation levels and their differences were important in predicting adolescent outcomes. Implications for conducting family therapy and parent education with Chinese North American adolescents and their parents are discussed.     

Family Functioning and Adolescent Help‐Seeking Behavior*

Data from 196 adolescents were used to examine the relationship between help‐seeking behavior and family functioning. Results indicated that half sought help for their problem, and problem type was not associated with help‐seeking behavior. Adolescents clustered into 2 groups of families—1 high in conflict and low in democratic parenting style and 1 low in conflict and high in democratic parenting style. Complex relationships between help‐seeking behavior, type of family, and type of problem were found.     

Acculturation and Latino Family Processes: How Cultural Involvement,Biculturalism, and Acculturation Gaps Influence Family Dynamics*

Abstract: This study investigated how adolescent and parent acculturation (culture‐of‐origin and U.S. cultural involvement, biculturalism, acculturation conflicts, and parent‐adolescent acculturation gaps) influenced family dynamics (family cohesion, adaptability, familism, and parent‐adolescent conflict) in a sample of 402 Latino families from North Carolina and Arizona. Multiple regression and hierarchical linear models suggested that culture‐of‐origin involvement and biculturalism were cultural assets related to positive outcomes, whereas acculturation conflict was inversely related to positive family dynamics and positively related to parent‐adolescent conflict. Parent‐adolescent acculturation gaps were inversely associated with family cohesion, adaptability, and familism but were unrelated to parent‐adolescent conflict. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed.     

Family Mediators of Acculturation and Adolescent Sexual Behavior Among Latino Youth

The present study develops and evaluates a theoretical framework of mediators of the relationship between acculturation and adolescent sexual behavior. Four hundred Latino mother–adolescent dyads from the Bronx, New York were interviewed. The study explored the relationship between intentions to have sexual intercourse and explanatory variables such as adolescent romantic relationship status and partner preferences, maternal approval of dating, adolescent perceptions of maternal approval of dating, and maternal and adolescent levels of familismo and acculturation. Findings revealed complex dynamics between acculturation and adolescent sexual behavior. Protective and risk-inducing associations were observed, with important gender differences operating for boys and girls. Implications for the development of applied prevention programs are discussed.     

Acculturation of Asian Indian parents: relationship with parent and child characteristics

Culture serves as a guiding framework to parents while rearing their children. However, when parents immigrate from one culture to another, they have to negotiate the conflicting demands and values of the two cultures when making decisions about child rearing. The present study investigated various aspects of parenting demonstrated by first-generation Asian Indian immigrant parents of young children. The study aimed at understanding the relationship between acculturation and various parental and child characteristics such as parenting stress, perceived social support, reasons for migration, duration of stay in the USA, and child's age and gender. No significant correlations were found between acculturation (measured through ethnic society immersion – ESI and dominant society immersion – DSI), parental stress, and social support. Parental scores on ESI were associated with whether or not they had relatives residing in the USA, whether or not they had plans to go back to India, and the age and gender of their child. Parental scores on the DSI were associated with their age and duration of their residence in the USA. Limitations of the study and policy implications of the findings are discussed.     

Understanding the Association Between Authoritative Parenting and Adolescent Smoking

Background: Research on adolescent cigarette smoking has attempted to measure the role of parents in preventing smoking experimentation and uptake. However, aspects of parental influence have often been limited to parental smoking behavior or antismoking socialization. Only a limited number of studies considered the hypothesis that the influence of parenting on adolescent current cigarette smoking may extend beyond parental behavior and antismoking socialization to consider broader measures of the parent–child relationship, such as parenting style. Methods: The sample was nationally representative and included 17,287 high school students nationwide. Data were used to categorize the parenting style—authoritative, permissive, autocratic, and unengaged—experienced by each respondent. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between parenting style and adolescent current cigarette smoking. Results: Authoritative parenting was associated with a reduction in the odds of adolescent current cigarette smoking (OR: 0.74, 99% CI: 0.58, 0.95). When authoritative parenting is simultaneously considered with believing parents’ opinions about smoking are important, authoritative parenting was no longer a significant correlate of adolescent current cigarette smoking, while believing parents’ opinions about smoking are important was associated with a 45% (99% CI: 0.48, 0.64) reduction in the odds of adolescent current cigarette smoking. Authoritative parenting was associated with a more than three-fold increase (OR: 3.65, 99% CI: 2.87, 4.66) in the odds of believing parents’ opinions about smoking are important. Discussion: Interventions may want to educate parents about authoritative parenting, which includes the importance of having appropriate and routine conversations with their children, requiring chores, and implementing general rules and boundaries.     

Acculturation and health beliefs of Mexican Americans regarding tuberculosis prevention

Mexican Americans are at particular risk of contracting tuberculosis. Yet too little is known about perceptions influencing their health. This study investigated gender and acculturation differences in TB-specific Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs, and the applicability of the HBM's traditional configuration to Mexican Americans. Acculturation and gender substantially influenced the findings. Traditional Mexican Americans reported higher perceived susceptibility and seriousness, more barriers, and greater attention to cues regarding TB prevention than Highly Integrated Biculturals. Women reported greater benefits, attention to cues, and intent to engage in TB prevention behaviors than men. Highly Integrated Bicultural men reported less attention to cues and less intent to engage in health behaviors than other groups. The traditional HBM configuration did not fit this sample. Reconfiguration did, however, result in adequate fit. Overall, higher perceived susceptibility, action benefits, attention to media cues, and female gender predicted greater intent to engage in TB health behaviors.     

Low‐Income Rural Mothers’ Perceptions of Parent Confidence: The Role of Family Health Problems and Partner Status*

Abstract: Parenting confidence can be undermined by the presence of frequent or persistent health problems, particularly for people living in rural communities that have limited access to adequate health care. However, little is known about how minor health problems in the family impact parenting. The current study examined single and coresident mothers’ parent confidence in relation to family health problems and parental support in a sample of 303 low‐income, rural mothers with young children from 14 states. Results show that the presence of family health problems was negatively associated with parent confidence. For coresident mothers, there was an indirect relationship through perceived parental support.     

Self-help parenting interventions for childhood behaviour disorders: a review of the evidence

The use of self-help interventions for parents of children with behaviour problems is becoming more prevalent. This review critically evaluated the evidence supporting the efficacy of such programmes for children with behaviour problems. Using a systematic literature search, two modes of delivery were evaluated, namely bibliotherapy and multimedia. Programmes that included minimal therapist support were also included. Overall, there is good evidence supporting the efficacy of self-help programmes in improving child behaviour, over the short and longer term. Self-help programmes led to outcomes similar to those achieved with more intensive therapist input. Including minimal levels of therapist support in addition to self-help materials enhances child and parent outcomes. Parents view self-help favourably but significantly less so than programmes including some form of therapist input. The future directions for self-help parent programmes include the need for longer-term follow-ups, the identification of moderators of outcome and economic evaluations of self-help programmes.     

Psychosocial Mediators of the Impact of Acculturation on Adolescent Substance Abuse

To identify and evaluate socio-psychological factors that are associated with differences in substance abuse prevalence between non-acculturated and acculturated Florida youth, we employed t-test and logistic regression to analyze self-reported data from 63,000 middle and high school student participants in the 2004 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey. Questionnaire items covered socio-demographics, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use; and perceptions and attitudes toward drug use. The outcome variables were past 30 day use of “any illicit drug.” The key independent variable was language used at home (English/Another language). The covariates were 32 socio-psychological factors that are considered risk and protective factors for adolescent drug abuse. Findings support the growing body of evidence suggesting that acculturation status is a strong predictor of substance use among adolescents. This effect may be mediated principally through the family and peer/individual psychosocial domains. The findings may have important implications for the design and implementation of drug prevention programs targeting teenagers.     

Adoptive Identity: How Contexts Within and Beyond the Family Shape Developmental Pathways*

The focus of this paper is adoptive identity, the sense of who one is as an adopted person. The paper first considers how identity has been shaped by recent social changes, and then explores the meaning of adoptive identity and its developmental course. Three contexts of development are examined: intrapsychic, the family environment, and contexts beyond the family, including relationships with friends, connection to community, and culture. Implications for professionals who work with adopted persons and for needed research are also discussed.     

Associations between Coparenting Quality and Food Parenting Practices among Mothers and Fathers in the Guelph Family Health Study

Coparenting quality and food parenting practices have been shown to have a strong influence on child outcomes. However, little is known about whether coparenting quality may influence food parenting practices. This study aimed to investigate how coparenting quality is associated with both mothers’ and fathers’ food parenting practices. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 58 mothers and 40 fathers enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study. The Coparenting Relationship Scale and the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire were used to measure coparenting and food parenting practices, respectively. Linear regressions using generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations between coparenting quality and food parenting practices in mothers and fathers. Among mothers, higher coparenting quality was associated with lower use of food for emotional regulation, restriction of food for health, and child control of food intake and with higher encouragement of a balanced and varied diet, provision of a healthy home environment, and modeling of healthy eating behaviors. Among fathers, higher coparenting quality was associated with lower pressure to eat and with higher encouragement of a balanced and varied diet and provision of a healthy home environment. Coparenting quality is associated with food parenting practices among both mothers and fathers. Interventions aiming to improve food parenting practices should include fathers and should consider targeting parents’ coparenting relationship.     

The Costs of Getting Ahead: Mexican Family System Changes After Immigration*

Abstract: This study explored how immigration influenced Mexican family relationships. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 adolescents and 14 parents from 10 undocumented Mexican families. Participants immigrated to North Carolina within the past 7 years. A conceptual model derived from the data using grounded theory methods suggested that, after immigration, parents had less time to spend with children because of demanding new jobs and mothers entering the work force. Decreased time as a family was associated with adolescents’ loneliness, isolation, and risk‐taking behavior. In response to perceived environmental threats, Mexican parents became authoritarian, precipitating parent‐adolescent conflict. Parent‐adolescent acculturation gaps were viewed as an asset as adolescents helped parents navigate within the new cultural system. Families coped with postimmigration changes by maintaining high levels of familism and enacting cultural traditions.     

Attachment and Parenting: The Mediating Role of Work‐Family Balance in Portuguese Parents of Preschool Children

Given the increasingly challenging task of balancing multiple adult life roles in contemporary society, this study examined the influences of both conflicting and (positively) synergistic work and family roles in mediating associations between the quality of adult attachment and both parental satisfaction and parenting stress. Participants were 242 Portuguese fathers and mothers involved in dual‐earner relationships and in parenting preschool‐aged children. Structural Equations Modeling analyses yielded findings demonstrating that the paths from romantic attachment (avoidance and anxiety) to parenting stress and satisfaction were fully explained by work‐family dimensions, especially the conflict dimension. Implications of these findings for parent education and intervention are discussed.     

大学生述情障碍与心理健康的关系

目的探讨大学生的述情障碍与心理健康的关系。方法采用多伦多述情量表和症状自评量表,对458名大学生进行调查问卷。结果大学生述情量表总分及各因子得分均高于常模,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。而且大学生的述情量表总分及各因子分与症状自评量表总分及各因子分显著相关(P0.01或P0.05)。结论大学生普遍存在述情障碍,并且述情障碍与心理健康密切相关,应充分关注并有针对性地进行心理辅导及咨询,提高其心理健康水平。     

The Impact of Acculturation Style and Acculturative Hassles on the Mental Health of Somali Adolescent Refugees

Refugee adolescents often immigrate to a new society because of experiences of persecution and trauma, which can have profound effects on their mental health. Once they immigrate, many refugees experience stressors related to resettlement and acculturation in the new society. The current study examined relationships among acculturation styles and hassles and the well-being of young refugees as well as the role of gender. Data were collected from 135 young refugees (M _age = 15.39, SD = 2.2; 62 % male) from Somalia resettled in the United States The findings from our study indicate that in addition to trauma history, acculturative hassles and acculturation style impact the wellbeing of Somali refugee adolescents. These findings indicate the need to understand both past experiences as well as current challenges. Potential areas for intervention are discussed.