title: "Entre dos mundos" (Between Two Worlds): bicultural skills training with Latino immigrant families.
abstract: This paper focuses on the acculturation model of second-culture-acquisition for Latino immigrants. Two theoretical frameworks, assimilation and alternation theories, are compared within the acculturation model. Empirical research findings suggest that assimilation is a risk factor for increases in negative health behaviors and mental health problems. Conversely, biculturalism appears to be an emerging protective factor that buffers assimilation stress, enhances socio-cognitive functioning, and increases academic achievement. A review of bicultural skills training interventions shows these programs are effective in decreasing the risk for problematic behavior. Finally, a refined model of bicultural skills training for Latino immigrant families is proposed based on the acculturation research literature and extensive interviews with Latino families in North Carolina.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, USA.
authors.forename: Martica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bacallao
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Smokowski
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005544:Forecasting; D015438:Health Behavior; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009657:North Carolina; D012307:Risk Factors