Mayra Y. Bámaca-Colbert

The Relationship Between Latino Adolescents’ Perceptions of Discrimination, Neighborhood Risk, and Parenting on Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptoms

Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological framework, this study examined the roles of Latino adolescents’ reports of discrimination, neighborhood risk, parent-child conflict over culture, and parental support in relation to their self-esteem and depression. Analysis of self-report data from 383 ninth grade, Latino students from one Los Angeles high school was used to validate a Multigroup Structural Equation Model of self-esteem and depressive symptoms for boys and girls. As expected, self-esteem was negatively and significantly related to depressive symptoms, yet the influence of other factors were less clear. Five paths marked the influence of mothers’ and fathers’ interactions on youths’ outcomes, demonstrating a strong path from fathers’ support to adolescent self-esteem and differing paths from cultural conflict with mother and father to youth outcomes. Neighborhood risks were significantly related to boys’ and girls’ self-esteem and depressive symptoms, especially for boys. Societal discrimination was significantly related to youths’ reports of depressive symptoms yet not significantly related to self-esteem. Results are discussed in terms of applications for both practice and future research.

Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Approaches to Studying Mexican-Origin Mother-Daughter Cultural Orientation Dissonance

The overall aim of the current study was to identify the methodological approach and corresponding analytic procedure that best elucidated the associations among Mexican-origin mother–daughter cultural orientation dissonance, family functioning, and adolescent adjustment. To do so, we employed, and compared, two methodological approaches (i.e., variable-centered and person-centered) via four analytic procedures (i.e., difference score, interactive, matched/mismatched grouping, and latent profiles). The sample consisted of 319 girls in the 7th or 10th grade and their mother or mother figure from a large Southwestern, metropolitan area in the US. Family factors were found to be important predictors of adolescent adjustment in all models. Although some findings were similar across all models, overall, findings suggested that the latent profile procedure best elucidated the associations among the variables examined in this study. In addition, associations were present across early and middle adolescents, with a few findings being only present for one group. Implications for using these analytic procedures in studying cultural and family processes are discussed.

Longitudinal Associations of Language Brokering and Parent-Adolescent Closeness in Immigrant Latino Families

Language brokering is a common practice for Latino youth with immigrant parents. Yet little is known about how youth’s feelings about this responsibility contribute to the parent-adolescent relationship. In this study, we examined the longitudinal associations between language brokering attitudes and parent-adolescent closeness in a sample of Latino early adolescents (n = 813, Maget1 = 12.32, SDt1 = .59), while taking into account language brokering frequency and the possible moderating role of sex. Results suggested that sex of the adolescent was a moderator. Specifically, younger males who felt closer to their parents had more positive attitudes toward language brokering, which dissipated as they aged. Furthermore, language brokering frequency had a delayed positive contribution to language brokering attitudes and parent-adolescent closeness, which was stronger for males than females. Results are discussed in terms of how age and gender cultural norms contribute to the relation between language brokering and parent-adolescent closeness.

Behavioral autonomy age expectations among Mexican-origin mother–daughter dyads: An examination of within-group variability

This study examined differences in behavioral autonomy age expectations between Mexican-origin mothers and their adolescent daughters (N = 319 dyads); variability in behavioral autonomy age expectations as a function of nativity and maternal educational attainment also was examined. Findings indicated significant differences between mothers and daughters, such that mothers reported later expectations for the timing of behavioral autonomy than did daughters. Follow-up analyses indicated that findings appeared to be driven by maternal nativity, with dyads comprised of Mexico-born mothers reporting the latest age expectations for behavioral autonomy when compared with dyads comprised of U.S. born mothers. Findings underscore the need to examine normative development among Latino adolescents and their families with a specific focus on how sociocultural characteristics can contribute to within-family differences.

Family Correlates of Adjustment Profiles in Mexican-Origin Female Adolescents

This study used a person-centered approach to examine patterns of adjustment along psychological (i.e., depression, self-esteem, anxiety) and academic (i.e., academic motivation) domains in a sample (N = 338) of Mexican-origin female adolescents. Four adjustment profiles were identified. A High Functioning (n = 173) group, which exhibited high positive adjustment and academic functioning, an Average Functioning (n = 83) group, which exhibited average psychological and academic functioning, an Academically Oriented and Stressed ( n = 19) group, which exhibited high academic motivation, but poor psychological functioning in anxiety and negative affect, and a Low Functioning ( n = 25) group, which exhibited poor adjustment overall. Further, paternal and maternal parenting characteristics (i.e., autonomy granting, parent—adolescent conflict, and supportive parenting) were differentially related to Mexican-origin female adolescents’ profiles, providing further evidence for the existence of the profiles. Results contribute to the current literature on Latino adolescents and highlight the importance of examining psychological and academic domains concurrently to determine how these two domains of adjustment are linked among this population.

Ethnic Identity Trajectories among Mexican-Origin Girls during Early and Middle Adolescence: Predicting Future Psychosocial Adjustment.

We examined trajectories of ethnic identity exploration, resolution, and affirmation and their associations with depressive symptoms and self-esteem 3.5 years later among early and middle adolescent Mexican-origin girls (N = 338). Findings indicated that exploration, resolution, and affirmation increased over time for both cohorts. Among early adolescents, growth in exploration was associated with more depressive symptoms during middle adolescence, whereas higher initial levels and greater rates of change of affirmation predicted fewer subsequent depressive symptoms. Among middle adolescents, higher baseline levels of exploration and affirmation predicted fewer depressive symptoms in late adolescence. Higher initial levels and greater change in affirmation predicted higher self-esteem among both cohorts. Findings highlight the developmental and multifaceted quality of ethnic identity and that associations between ethnic identity and adjustment may vary by adolescent developmental stage. (PsycINFO Database Record

Mexican-Origin Youth Substance Use Trajectories: Associations with Cultural and Family Factors.

The current study identified alcohol and cannabis use trajectories among a sample of Mexican-origin youth and examined cultural and familial correlates from childhood to adolescence. Mexican-origin youth (N = 674) from Northern California were assessed annually from ages 10 to 17 (8 waves). Latent class growth modeling examined variability in developmental trajectories for last 3-month alcohol and cannabis use frequency. Analyses also examined between-trajectory differences in youth’s cultural practices and values, family cultural conflict, general parent–child conflict, and parental monitoring at 4 time points from ages 10 to 16. Analyses resulted in a 4-class model for alcohol use, comprising nonusers (62%), early-increasing (10%), adolescent-limited (11%), and late-onset (17%) subgroups, and a 4-class model for cannabis use, including nonusers (74%), early-increasing (8%), occasional use (16%), and high-declining (2%) subgroups. Findings suggested that early language use (higher English at age 10 and lower Spanish at age 12) was a temporally distal marker for several alcohol and cannabis use trajectories, whereas lower traditional family values at ages 14 and 16 were associated with several classes characterized by early substance use. Elevations in familial (parent–child conflict, parental monitoring) risk factors co-occurred in time and generally suggested temporally proximal connections with substance use behavior. Further, there was evidence that a less prominent decline in certain protective factors (e.g., father monitoring) was associated with reductions in substance use. These findings inform the literature by describing youth subgroups with variable risk for substance use development, and suggest modifiable risk factors associated with more frequent substance use trajectories.

Perceptions of support from mothers, fathers, and friends: Direct and indirect associations with the psychological adjustment of Mexican-origin girls.

We examined the direct and indirect associations of perceived support (from mother, father, and friends) with self-esteem and depressive symptoms in an ethnic homogeneous sample of Mexican-origin adolescent girls living in the United States (N = 127, 14 to 19 years of age, 68% U.S.-born). Path analyses with structural equation modeling revealed that perceptions of support from significant others were associated with self-esteem and depressive symptoms, but associations differed by adolescent age. Moreover, perceptions of support from significant others were indirectly related to depressive symptoms via self-esteem. Regarding age differences, perceived support from mother and father figures was associated with self-esteem and depressive symptoms across adolescence. Support from friends was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and self-esteem in the expected direction among middle and late adolescents, but support from friends was negatively associated with self-esteem among early adolescents. In sum, perception of support from parents appears to be a salient correlate of Mexican-origin girls’ adjustment across adolescence, whereas perception of friend support appears to be more salient for these girls later in adolescence. En este estudio se analizaron las relaciones directas e indirectas entre apoyo percibido (de las figuras materna y paterna así como de los amigos), autoestima y síntomas depresivos en una muestra étnicamente homogénea de chicas adolescentes de origen mexicano que viven en los Estados Unidos (N = 127, de 14 a 19 años, 68% nacidas en los Estados Unidos). Los resultados del path análisis realizados con modelos de ecuaciones estructurales mostraron que el apoyo que las chicas percibían de personas significativas estaba relacionado con autoestima y síntomas depresivos, pero la relación difería en función de la edad de la adolescente. Además, el apoyo percibido de personas significativas estaba indirectamente relacionadas con los síntomas depresivos a través de la autoestima. En cuanto a las diferencias por edad, el apoyo percibido de las figuras materna y paterna estaba relacionado con autoestima y depresión a lo largo de la adolescencia. En cambio, el apoyo de los amigos estaba relacionado significativamente con síntomas depresivos y autoestima en la dirección esperada en la adolescencia media y tardía, y de forma negativa con la autoestima durante la adolescencia temprana. En definitiva, los resultados de este estudio sugieren que la percepción de apoyo por parte de los padres es un correlato relevante del ajuste de las adolescentes de origen mexicano a lo largo de toda la adolescencia, mientras que la percepción de apoyo por parte de los amigos parece ser más relevante para estas adolescentes en momentos posteriores de la adolescencia.

Cultural profiles among Mexican-Origin girls: Associations with psychosocial adjustment

Much of the cultural processes research has used single-domain measures of and approaches to cultural orientation, acculturation, and ethnic identity. The current study examined the latent cultural profiles that emerged from the intrapersonal (i.e., ethnic identity and generational status), interpersonal (i.e., language use), and familial (i.e., familial ethnic socialization) domains among 338 Mexican-origin girls in 7th (n = 170; Mage = 12.27, SD = .28; 63.6% U.S.-born) and 10th grades (n = 168; Mage = 15.21, SD = .46; 60.6% U.S.-born). Further, we examined how these profiles were associated with self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and discrimination. Four cultural profiles emerged from a latent profile analysis (i.e., strong-positive, strong-negative, Spanish-dominant low, and English-dominant low). Results indicated that the strong-positive profile (i.e., high on ethnic identity and familial ethnic socialization, bilingual, second generation) was most adaptive, in that this group had the highest self-esteem. Profiles did not differ in perceived discrimination or depressive symptoms. Results highlight the multifaceted nature of cultural profiles and suggest that affiliation with heritage culture across intrapersonal, interpersonal, and familial domains is beneficial for the psychosocial adjustment of Mexican-origin girls. Implications of the use of a multidomain conceptualization of cultural processes in research and positive youth adjustment programs are discussed. Gran parte de las investigaciones sobre procesos culturales han utilizado medidas y enfoques unidimensionales para la orientación cultural, aculturación, e identidad étnica). El presente estudio examinó perfiles culturales que surgieron a partir de las dimensiones intrapersonal (i.e., identidad étnica y estatus generacional en los Estados Unidos [EE.UU]), interpersonal (i.e., uso del idioma), y familiar (i.e., socialización étnica familiar) con 338 niñas de origen mexicano en los grados 7° (n = 170; Medad = 12.27, SD = .28; 63.6% nacidas en EE.UU.) y 10° (n = 168; Medad = 15.21, SD = .46; 60.6% nacidas en EE.UU.). Además, examinamos cómo estos perfiles estaban asociados con autoestima, síntomas depresivos, y discriminación. Cuatro perfiles culturales surgieron usando Latent Profile Analysis (i.e., fuerte-positivo, fuerte-negativo, bajo, con preferencia al español, bajo, con preferencia al inglés). Los resultados indicaron que el perfil muy positivo (i.e., alta identidad étnica y socialización étnica familiar, bilingüe, y segunda generación) fue el mejor adaptado ya que este grupo tuvo el nivel más alto de autoestima. No hubo diferencia entre los perfiles en discriminación y síntomas depresivos. Los resultados resaltan el origen multifacético de los perfiles culturales y sugieren que la afiliación hacia el patrimonio cultural de origen familiar sobre las áreas intrapersonales, interpersonales, y familiares es beneficiosa para adaptación psicológica de la niñas de origen mexicano. Se discutirán las implicaciones que tiene el uso de una concepción multifacética de perfiles culturales en la investigación y programas para la adaptación positiva de jóvenes.

Examining Socio-Cultural and Neighborhood Factors Associated with Trajectories of Mexican-Origin Mothers’ Education-Related Involvement

Parental involvement in education is an important determinant of youth’s academic success. Yet, there is limited knowledge on how Latino parents’ education-related involvement changes over time. Using data from a longitudinal study of 674 Mexican-origin families (mother-adolescent dyad; Mage of child at Wave 1=10.4, SD = 0.60), we examined trajectories of parental involvement from 5th to 11th grade and the effects of socio-cultural (e.g., family SES and acculturation) and contextual (e.g., neighborhood) factors on these trajectories. Results showed that mothers reduced two aspects of the educational involvement: home-based involvement and academic aspirations, but increased on a third aspect of involvement, resource seeking. Furthermore, family SES, acculturation, and neighborhood context were differentially associated with mothers’ involvement at 5th grade and predicted changes in involvement across elementary and high school.