M. Loreto Martínez

Chilean adolescents’ beliefs about the legitimacy of parental authority: Individual and age-related differences

Individual and age-related differences in the patterning of adolescents’ beliefs about the legitimacy of parental authority were examined in a sample of 3425 Chilean adolescents (Mage = 15.0). During early, middle, and late adolescence, three analogous patterns of beliefs about the legitimacy of parental authority were identified using latent class analysis (LCA). Youth in the Parental Control class ceded parents legitimate control over issues in the multi-faceted and prudential domains and were relatively likely to cede parental control over the personal domain. Those in the Shared Control class differentiated the prudential from other domains. Those in the Personal Control class denied parents legitimate authority over issues in all domains. Within analogous classes, younger adolescents were more likely to grant parents legitimate authority than older adolescents. Results are consistent with prior research documenting age-related differences, but raise important questions about the normative nature of age-related change in legitimacy beliefs. The advantages of studying sub-groups and variability in the patterning of legitimacy beliefs are discussed.

Expectativas de Autoeficacia y Actitud Prosocial Asociadas a Participación Ciudadana en Jóvenes

Se estudiaron las diferencias en la cantidad y tipo de participacion entre jovenes de ambos sexos y, como estas diferencias inciden en las expectativas de autoeficacia y la actitud prosocial a futuro. La muestra estuvo constituida por 1900 jovenes, estudiantes de ensenanza media de tres comunas de la Region Metropolitana. A traves de pruebas no parametricas y analisis de regresion lineal se examinaron: a) las diferencias existentes entre ambos sexos en la cantidad de actividades de participacion; b) las relaciones existentes entre el sexo de los participantes y su participacion en actividades de tipo prosocial y activista, y c) la asociacion entre tipos de participacion social y las expectativas de autoeficacia y actitud prosocial de los adolescentes. Los resultados indicaron que las mujeres participan mas que los hombres. El sexo de los jovenes es una variable predictora de la actitud prosocial a futuro, pero no predice expectativas de autoeficacia. La participacion social se asocia positivamente a las expectativas de autoeficacia, como tambien a la actitud prosocial. Se discuten las implicancias de los hallazgos desde la perspectiva de las politicas de juventud y la igualdad de genero.

¿En qué Ciudadanía Creen los Jóvenes? Creencias, Aspiraciones de Ciudadanía y Motivaciones Para la Participación Sociopolítica

En esta era global los jovenes se han distanciado de formas tradicionales de ejercer su derecho politico (e.g., voto) y han mostrado nuevas formas de participacion sociopolitica cuyo sustrato de creencias y motivaciones ha sido poco estudiado. Se indagan las creencias y aspiraciones de ciudadania en una muestra de 24 jovenes chilenos, de ambos sexos y diversa condicion socioeconomica, todos con historia de participacion en organizaciones de voluntariado social, politicas, etnico-politicas, ecologicas y estudiantiles. Se utilizo una metodologia cualitativa, con entrevistas individuales semiestructuradas y grupos focales. Los resultados indican que la motivacion central de los jovenes es cambiar la falta de validacion de las personas en el sistema sociopolitico actual, debido a la vulneracion de derechos, inequidad social y falta de voz y poder de los ciudadanos. Los jovenes adscriben a una ciudadania activa que valora la responsabilidad de informarse y la deliberacion de los ciudadanos. A la base de sus creencias y aspiraciones de ciudadania emergen los valores de fraternidad, dignidad y equidad.

Chilean Adolescents' and Parents' Views on Autonomy Development.

This study aims to understand Chilean parents’ and adolescents’ conceptions of autonomy and whether they hold different expectations for autonomous behaviors by generation and socioeconomic level. A qualitative approach to data collection was used through separate focus groups of parents and adolescents from different socioeconomic condition. Substantial similarities in parents’ and adolescents’ conceptions of autonomy were found. Both generations conceive autonomy as multidimensional (i.e., self-sufficiency, decision making, and acting responsibly) and as an age-graded process that is achieved in interaction with parents. Participants emphasize the affective quality of the parent–adolescent relationship, particularly trust, for healthy autonomy achievement. Differences by socioeconomic status (SES) were also apparent in that low-middle-SES parents emphasize the self-sufficiency and responsibility component of autonomy, and adolescents grant more authority to parents in regulating adolescents’ behavior compared with their high-middle-SES counterparts

Parental and individual predictors of trajectories of depressive symptoms in Chilean adolescents

Depressive symptoms are prevalent in adolescence, but not all adolescents experience the same level or evolution of symptoms, suggesting the need to identify differences in trajectories of symptoms. We used Growth Mixture Modeling to analyze different trajectories of depressive symptoms in a sample of 1,072 Chilean adolescents (12-15 years old, 54% female). First, a baseline model was selected and then adolescent irritability, maternal warmth, demandingness and disrespect were introduced to the model as predictors of class membership. Four latent class trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified: high persistent (12%), low stable (56%), high decreasing (15%) and low increasing (17%). Low stable was the most prevalent class, and was characterized by higher maternal warmth and lower maternal disrespect and adolescent irritability while high persistent was characterized by the opposite maternal characteristics. Significant gender differences in class membership were observed. The results highlight the importance of identifying different trajectories of depressive symptoms and specific predictors of each trajectory. The association of parenting dimensions with trajectories of persistent depressive symptoms provides evidence that parenting can serve as both a protective and risk factor for adolescent adjustment.

Young Chileans' Views of Citizenship: Findings From the First Generation Born After the Reinstitution of Democracy

Through a qualitative methodology, this study examines meanings attached to citizenship, barriers for citizenship, motivations for civic engagement, and aspirations as citizens in a sample (n = 71) of Chilean youth that grew up during the transition to democracy. The meanings youth attached to citizenship include membership, entitlement to rights and responsibilities, active participation, being informed, and voting. Participants perceived that practices of the political class, the economic system, and social disparities are barriers to exercising citizenship. They challenge the principles of a social order they consider unjust and advance proposals for social transformation that claim for social justice, reducing socio-economic disparities, discrimination, and bringing the political class closer to ordinary citizens. Findings reflect critical and cultural notions of citizenship. Contrasting their actual experiences with their aspirations for citizenship, participants feel politically inefficacious as they perceive they lack the power to influence the sociopolitical system. Implications for sociopolitical development and youth policy are discussed.

Gender Differences in Civic Involvement and Political Attitudes in Chilean Adolescents

How youth are faring as future citizens and political beings is an issue of renewed interest in Chile. Historical and political events associated with the advent of democracy have made politics a more salient aspect of life. At the same time, interest in adolescents’ political attitudes and identities has also increased due to a heightened concern about youth’s low levels of trust in political parties, government representatives, and public institutions (INJUV, 2000; 2004). Youth apathy for the polity has been noted both as low involvement in political activities and attitudes of political detachment (INJUV 2002; Manzi/Gonzalez/Haye 1999). 71 per cent of youth 20-24 years old were not registered to vote in 2000, as opposed to 48 in 1997 (http://www.injuv.gob.cl/cedoc_archivos/), and the percentage of 18-29 year olds registered to vote has gone from 36% in 1988 to 20% in 1997 (INJUV 1998). Political participation is a prerequisite for the success of democratic societies (Flanagan/Sherrod 1998) and the figures above have raised concerns about the political socialization process that is taking place in families, schools, and other social institutions.

Refining the domain of civic engagement: Empirical findings from a multidimensional model in young adults in Chile

Abstract Civic engagement has been predominantly studied in adolescents, and models tested have included different skills, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors oftentimes without a clear theoretical foundation. Driven by theory and extensive review of empirical studies, this study empirically identifies core dimensions of the construct in young adults. Findings from confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of 421 young adults, provided support for a 4-factor second order model (CFI = .924; RMSEA = .044) that included civic skills, civic duty, internal political efficacy, and civic behaviors. An alternative 7-second order model had a less acceptable fit to the data, indicating that social trust and external political efficacy are not core dimensions of civic engagement. Post hoc analysis suggest that civic attention is also part of the construct, but results from invariance indicate the need for further evidence. Core dimensions of the construct are discussed, and valid indicators of civic engagement are provided.

Quality of Participation in Youth Organizations: Relationships With Identity and Sense of Sociopolitical Control

Through a cross-sectional design, this study examines whether practices of active participation (AP; that is, opportunities for decision making and leadership) and quality of relationships (QR) established between members of youth organizations (i.e., affective and instrumental support) relate to dimensions of youth’s identity (i.e., personal purpose, personal meaning) and sense of sociopolitical control (i.e., leadership, political efficacy). Participants (n = 347; 17-26 years) were drawn from 38 youth organizations in two regions of Chile. Results from multiple regression models controlling for demographics, length of involvement, and aim of the organization yielded significant interactions between QR and practices of AP on both indicators of identity and political efficacy. Only length of involvement in the organization was related to leadership outcomes. Findings highlight the powerful effects of the quality of the relational context of youth programs and organizations to actualize the benefits of AP.

Youth citizens: Reflexions on a citizen youth training policy

Este articulo analiza los resultados de estudios previos sobre las nociones de ciudadania y aspiraciones de ejercicio ciudadano que tienen jovenes chilenos, y la manera en que estan siendo abordados por los programas existentes en nuestro pais. La presentacion identifica los desafios que se plantean para el desarrollo de una politica educacional como contexto macrosocial que pro-mueva la formacion ciudadana. Se analizan tambien aspectos mas especificos de la formacion ciudadana que se plantean en los programas existentes: a) creacion de una cultura escolar democratica; b) valoracion de la formacion ciudadana y el rol de los adultos; c) sintonia entre el programa, proyecto educativo y entorno institucional; d) fortalecimiento de las metodologias y equipos ejecutores; e) problematizacion de la pobreza; y f) extension de estas experiencias a los contextos de vida reales de los jovenes. Se analizan las implicancias para el fortalecimiento del trabajo educativo en el contexto escolar y una politica de formacion ciudadana juvenil. P