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About this paper symposium
| Panel information |
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| Panel 17. Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context |
| Paper #1 | |
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| Assessing Self-Regulation and Ego-Resiliency as Protective Against Pandemic Stress and Internalizing Problems in Latine Adolescents | |
| Author information | Role |
| Zoe Ellen Taylor, Ph.D., Purdue University, United States | Presenting author |
| Yumary Ruiz, Purdue University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Abstract | |
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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted mental health for adolescents from all backgrounds, but Latine adolescents (especially those from immigrant families and in rural communities) experienced disproportionate burdens along with disruptions to academic, social, and emotional support systems that reduced their adjustment and well-being (Carlos Chavez et al., 2023; Kuhlman et al., 2023; Stein et al., 2023; Taylor et al., 2024). Self-regulation skills are continuing to develop across early adolescence and have been found to be modified by stressors (Atherton, 2020; King et al., 2013; Lengua, 2012). In contrast, traits associated with self-regulation such as effortful control and executive functions, may promote positive mental health through their influence on resilience and coping strategies. However, significantly less is known about stability and change of self-regulatory traits in adolescence (compared to childhood) and constructs such as effortful control and executive functioning remain understudied in Latine youth (Atherton et al., 2020; Taylor et al., 2018), especially in relation to mental health. Method: We investigated psychological mechanisms (self-regulatory traits and ego-resiliency) underlying the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic stress and mental health across two waves of data. We hypothesized that self-regulatory traits and resilience would serially mediate the impact of the pandemic on mental health. Participants were Latine youth ages 10-15 years (N = 307, Mage = 12.21 years, 51.0% boys) and a primary caregiver (N = 284, 87.7% mothers) in rural and agricultural families in the U.S. Midwest. 32.7% of youth participated in a Migrant Education Program (MEP). Families were predominantly immigrants—87.3% of caregivers and 28.8% of youth were born outside the U.S. (39% of youth were from Guatemala, 30% from Mexico, 16% from El Salvador, and 16% other). Mean household income was 25-30K and 65% of caregivers had less than a high school education. Youth reported on COVID-19 exposure/stressors, mental health (depression and anxiety), effortful control, and ego-resiliency. Executive function was also assessed using two NIH toolbox behavioral tasks (card sort and flanker). We used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to evaluate a model (Figure 1) in Mplus Version 8.5. Covariates included youth age, sex, and MEP status. Results: Pandemic exposure was negatively associated with executive functioning tasks (but not self-reported effortful control), and marginal direct effects on W2 mental health (controlling for prior mental health at W1). There was a marginal indirect effect from pandemic exposure to W2 mental health through executive functioning, and a direct indirect effect from W1 effortful control to W2 mental health through W2 ego-resiliency. Sex (coded for girls) was a positive predictor of mental health problems at both waves, and a negative predictor of both effortful control and executive functioning tasks. Results highlight the importance of two closely linked strength-based characteristics (self-regulation and ego-resiliency) that are continuing to develop during early adolescence for buffering against stressors and improving mental health for Latine adolescents. Given the high rates of mental health problems in Latine youth (both prior to the pandemic, and exacerbated by the pandemic), it is critical to identify factors that could be utilized in interventions. |
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| Paper #2 | |
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| Predicting Trajectories of Internalizing Symptoms for Latina Girls From Early to Late Adolescence | |
| Author information | Role |
| Roushanac Partovi, M.P.H., The George Washington University, United States | Presenting author |
| Kathleen M Roche, The George Washington University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Sharon F. Lambert, The George Washington University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| E. Whitney G. Moore, East Carolina University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Abstract | |
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Adolescence is a sensitive period of development during which Latinx adolescents, especially girls, face heightened risks for internalizing symptoms compared to other racial/ethnic minority adolescents (Anderson & Mayes, 2010; Arizaga et al., 2020; McLaughlin et al., 2007). Despite Latina girls’ elevated risk of poor mental health, little prospective research has been informative about their developmental trajectories of internalizing symptoms. Social-ecological developmental perspectives point to the importance of both social relationships and developmental transitions for understanding youth adjustment. This study examines how Latina girls’ trajectories of internalizing symptoms from early to late adolescence are predicted by peer discrimination and parental autonomy support during transitions in early middle school and into high school. Data was derived for n = 303 Latina girls from a longitudinal study of Latinx adolescents living in a new immigrant area of suburban Atlanta, GA (baseline Mage = 13.3, SD = 0.97; 89.4% U.S. born). At each time point, girls reported on their internalizing symptoms over the past six months (Achenbach, 1991). During the Spring of 6th grade and Fall of 9th grade, girls reported on their experiences with peer discrimination (Fisher et al., 2000) and parental autonomy support (Soenens et al., 2007). Using 14 time points of data from Spring of 6th grade through one-year post high school, we conducted latent class growth curve analysis to identify trajectories of girls’ internalizing symptoms. Using logistic regressions within a structural equation modeling framework, we then examined how experiences with peer discrimination and parent autonomy support in early middle school and the beginning of high school predicted trajectory classes of girls’ internalizing symptoms. As shown in Figure 1, results from our longitudinal structural equation model identified five trajectory classes of girls’ internalizing symptoms: (1) Clinical and Increasing (12.5%), (2) High-Moderate, Increasing to Borderline-Clinical (33.0%), (3) Initially Low, Sharply Increasing to Clinical (10.6%), (4) Moderate and Stable (26.4%), and (5) Low and Stable (17.4%). Girls’ reports of peer discrimination during Spring of 6th grade and Fall of 9th grade were associated with higher odds of being in the “clinical and increasing” class of internalizing symptoms compared to the “low and stable” class. Peer discrimination during Fall of 9th grade also was associated with higher odds of being in the “high-moderate increasing to borderline-clinical” class and the “initially low, sharply increasing to clinical” class, as compared to the “low and stable” class. Parental autonomy support during Fall of 9th grade was associated with lower odds of being in the “clinical and increasing” or the “high-moderate increasing to borderline-clinical” class, as compared to the low and stable class. Study findings highlight important heterogeneity in Latina girls’ trajectories of internalizing symptoms. Moreover, we find that peer ethnic discrimination may contribute to high and increasing internalizing symptoms for Latina adolescent girls during school transitions. For girls making the transition to high school, parental autonomy support appears to reduce risks for poor mental health. Our findings advance knowledge of the developmental course of internalizing symptoms for today’s Latinx adolescents living in an emerging immigrant destination. |
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| Paper #3 | |
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| Neighborhood Impact on Mental Health and Parenting Among Latina Immigrant Mothers in the Rural Midwest | |
| Author information | Role |
| Jihee Im, Ph.D., Purdue University, United States | Presenting author |
| Zoe E Taylor, Purdue University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Yumary Ruiz, Purdue University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Abstract | |
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Introduction: Parental monitoring—a set of behaviors involving tracking a child's whereabouts, activities, and peer relationships (Dishion & McMahon, 1998)—is a critical aspect of parenting for youth. It is consistently associated with positive youth adjustment, preventing substance use, conduct problems, and risky sexual behaviors (Bouffard & Armstrong, 2021; Dittus et al., 2015; Julie et al., 2018). Recent studies show that parental monitoring is influenced by neighborhood context; specifically, living in a cohesive neighborhood with supportive, trustworthy neighbors who share similar values promotes these behaviors (Booth & Shaw, 2020; Zhao et al., 2021). However, the impacts of neighborhood context on parental monitoring remain unclear among Latine immigrant families in non-traditional rural areas. These areas present unique challenges as parents integrate into communities, including cultural and linguistic barriers, a lack of supportive infrastructure (Raffaelli et al., 2012), and more prevalent discrimination experiences (May et al., 2015). Given the challenges Latinx immigrant parents face in rural neighborhoods, this study investigated the relation between perceived neighborhood social cohesion and parental monitoring among Latina immigrant mothers in the rural Midwest. We also examined whether parental mental health serves as a mechanism linking neighborhood social cohesion to parental monitoring, as stressful, hostile neighborhood contexts can undermine mental health (Hill & Maimon, 2013), subsequently influencing parenting behaviors. To further contextualize the quantitative associations, we analyzed interview data from 20 mothers involved in the same study. Participants: Data came from an ongoing longitudinal mixed-method study of immigrant Latine youth and their mothers in the rural Midwest. The sample comprised 261 foreign-born mothers (Mage = 39.0 years; 73.1% of Mexican descent; 67% with less than a high school education). At Wave 1, the mothers reported their perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion and their experiences of depression and anxiety. They also reported their engagement in parental monitoring behaviors at both Wave 1 and Wave 2. Results: Path analysis showed that maternal perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion were negatively associated with mental health problems, while maternal mental health problems were negatively associated with monitoring behaviors. However, perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion did not show a significant relation with parental monitoring. The indirect pathway from perceived neighborhood social cohesion at Wave 1 to parental monitoring at Wave 2, mediated by maternal mental health problems, was significant (β = 0.04*), even after controlling for parental monitoring at Wave 1. Preliminary qualitative analysis revealed that Latine immigrant mothers interacted with various community members and organizations, including neighbors, Hispanic churches, and programs (e.g., Migrant Education Programs). These entities provided diverse forms of social support, including instrumental, emotional, and informal resources. Additionally, some mothers recounted experiences of racial discrimination and acculturation-related stress as they navigated daily life in their communities. Implications: The findings underscore the importance of neighborhood contexts for the mental health of Latine immigrant mothers in rural settings and the subsequent effects on their parenting behaviors. Despite the challenges posed by rural neighborhoods, Latine immigrant mothers successfully cultivate social relationships within their communities, allowing them to access vital support which promote mental health and positive parenting behaviors. |
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| Paper #4 | |
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| Links Among Parents’ U.S. Mainstream Values, Parenting Practices, Culture-Related Mechanisms, and Prosociality in Latine Youth | |
| Author information | Role |
| Alysia M. Cruz, University of California, Irvine, United States | Presenting author |
| Gustavo Carlo, University of California, Irvine, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Lisa Crockett, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Abstract | |
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Parents are important socializers of prosocial behaviors (i.e., actions that benefit others). Some parents influence their youth prosocial behaviors by teaching culture-related values, providing support (i.e., expressions of warmth and respect) and using psychological control (i.e., use of manipulation and restrictive practices; Carlo & Conejo, 2019). U.S. mainstream values (self-reliance, competition, personal achievement, and material success) are deemed inconsistent with promoting prosocial behaviors (except selfishly-motivated forms) but parents often teach these values to their youth. However, parental support has been positively associated with prosocial behaviors, whereas psychological control has been negatively linked to such behaviors (Pastorelli et al., 2016). Prosocial behaviors are also positively linked to other cultural values such as familism (family as a referent, support, obligation) and to ethnic identity (exploration and resolution). However, little is known regarding the interplay of parents’ cultural beliefs, support and psychological control, youth cultural beliefs, ethnic identity, and prosocial behaviors. Based on parental socialization (Calzada et al., 2010) and ecocultural prosocial development (Carlo & Conejo, 2019) models, we examined whether parents’ support and psychological control, youth ethnic identity and youth familism serially mediate the relations between parents’ U.S. mainstream values and U.S. Latine youth prosocial behaviors. Specifically, we hypothesized that parents who endorse U.S. mainstream values would exhibit less parental support and more psychological control. Parental support, in turn, would be positively linked to youth ethnic identity, familism, and subsequently to care-based, responsive prosocial behaviors. In contrast, psychological control, in turn, would be negatively linked to youth ethnic identity, familism, and subsequently to care-based, responsive prosocial behaviors. Participants were 305 U.S. Latine immigrant youth (54% boys; Mage = 15.4 years) and their parents (N = 303; 88% female, Mage = 40.7 years) in Nebraska who completed self-report measures of U.S. mainstream values (Knight et al., 2010), parental support (Barber et al, 2005) parental psychological control (Barber et al., 2005), familism (Knight et al., 2010), ethnic identity (resolution and exploration) (Umaña-Taylor et al., 2004), and care-based, responsive prosocial behaviors (emotional, compliant, dire; Carlo et al., 2003) (Table 1). A path analytic model (Figure 1) examined the direct relations among parent-reported U.S. mainstream values, youth-reported parental support, parental psychological control, youth ethnic identity, familism, and youth care-based prosocial behaviors (emotional, dire, compliant). The model fit was adequate: N = 306, χ2 (6) = 16.550, p < .01, RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.076 (0.033, 0.121), CFI = 0.969, TLI = 0.890, SRMR = 0.030. Path analyses revealed that parents’ U.S. mainstream values were negatively related to parental support. In turn, parental support was positively linked to youth ethnic identity (resolution and exploration) and youth familism (family as referent, support, emotional closeness). Interestingly, there was a significant negative relation between parental psychological control and youth familism. Furthermore, youth ethnic identity was significantly related to youth familism and care-based, responsive prosocial behaviors. Familism was significantly related to care-based, responsive prosocial behaviors. Indirect effects analyses will be conducted later. Discussion will focus on the importance of family and culture-specific mechanisms in accounting for U.S. Latine adolescents' prosocial behaviors. |
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Resources and Assets in Immigrant Latine Families: A Strength-Based Approach to Latine Adolescent Development
Submission Type
Paper Symposium
Description
| Session Title | Resources and Assets in Immigrant Latine Families: A Strength-Based Approach to Latine Adolescent Development |