title: MaternalFamilismoand early childhood functioning in Mexican and Dominican immigrant families.
abstract: A large theoretical and empirical literature documents the central role offamilismo(i.e., a strong emphasis on family) in the functioning of Latino youth. Few studies, however, have examined its association with early childhood functioning. The present study explored the potential risk and protective effects of maternalfamilismoon the adaptive and mental health functioning of 4 - 5 year old Latino children. A sample of 205 Mexican and 147 Dominican immigrant families was recruited from New York City. Mothers reported on their level offamilismo, and acculturative status. Mothers and teachers rated child adaptive behavior and internalizing and externalizing problems. Findings suggest that maternalfamilismois not uniformly associated with positive or negative early developmental outcomes but that its effects are moderated by child gender, family poverty and cultural (e.g., maternal ethnic and US American identity) characteristics. In addition, different mechanisms were identified for each ethnic group.Familismowas associated both positively (for boys) and negatively (for poor children) with adaptive behavior in the Mexican American sample. In the Dominican American sample,familismoshowed a wide range of positive, albeit moderated, effects. Prevention efforts that help parents critically evaluate the impact offamilismoon family processes, and preserve those manifestations offamilismothat are protective, may best promote Latino child well-being.
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, New York University School of Medicine, One Park Avenue, 7 Floor, New York, NY 10016.
authors.forename: Esther J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Calzada
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, New York University School of Medicine, One Park Avenue, 7 Floor, New York, NY 10016.
authors.forename: Keng-Yen
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, New York University School of Medicine, One Park Avenue, 7 Floor, New York, NY 10016.
authors.forename: Heliana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linares-Torres
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, New York University School of Medicine, One Park Avenue, 7 Floor, New York, NY 10016.
authors.forename: S Diana
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, New York University School of Medicine, One Park Avenue, 7 Floor, New York, NY 10016.
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brotman
keywords: adaptive behavior; early childhood; familismo; mental health functioning