Influence of risk factors and cultural assets on Latino adolescents' trajectories of self-esteem and internalizing symptoms.
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.
Smokowski
Paul Richard
PR
School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 325 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550, USA. smokowsk@email.unc.edu.
Rose
Roderick A
RA
Bacallao
Martica
M
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