title: Influence of risk factors and cultural assets on Latino adolescents' trajectories of self-esteem and internalizing symptoms.
abstract: In this study, we examined longitudinal, person-centered trajectories of acculturation, internalizing symptoms, and self-esteem in 349 Latino adolescents. We compared acculturation measures (time in the US, culture-of-origin involvement, US cultural involvement, for both parents and adolescents); acculturation stressors (perceived discrimination, acculturation conflicts); and family dynamics (parent-adolescent conflict, familism). Results indicated that, over time, Latino adolescents' internalizing problems decreased and their self-esteem increased. However, we showed that increased length of time living in the US was significantly related to lower self-esteem among adolescents. Parent-adolescent conflict was a strong risk factor, which not only directly heightened internalizing symptoms and lowered self-esteem, but also mediated the effects of acculturation conflicts and perceived discrimination on these outcomes. Our findings revealed familism as a cultural asset associated with fewer internalizing symptoms and higher self-esteem. Internalizing symptoms were also minimized by the adolescent's involvement in the US culture whereas bicultural adolescents with high culture-of-origin involvement reported higher self-esteem. We discussed the limitations and implications of this study for future research and practice.
authors: School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 325 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550, USA. smokowsk@email.unc.edu.
authors: Paul Richard
authors: PR
authors: Smokowski
authors: Roderick A
authors: RA
authors: Rose
authors: Martica
authors: M
authors: Bacallao
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology