College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Spring 6-14-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Antonio Polo, PhD

Second Advisor

Joanna Buscemi, PhD

Third Advisor

Jocelyn Carter, PhD

Abstract

When compared to youth from other ethnic backgrounds, Latinx youth present with higher levels of mental health problems (e.g., internalizing). Various heritage cultural values, such as affiliative obedience, have been found as protective against mental health problems in Latinx youth. These findings, however, have not been ubiquitous, have not often included parent or combined parent and child perspectives, and have been limited by design and methodological shortcomings (e.g., single reporters, difference scores). The Acculturation Gap Distress – Expanded (AGD-E) model was used as the guiding theoretical framework to examine parent-child heritage cultural value endorsement patterns and their association to youth mental health and other child and parent correlates. This study included 295 Latinx children (Mage= 11.45, SD = 0.95), slightly more females (n = 163; 55.3%) than males, and their parents of predominately low income and Mexican American backgrounds. Latent profile analysis (LPA) revealed a three-profile solution. Two groups were in values mismatches profiles: HY_MP (high youth, moderate parent) (n = 74; 25%), MY_HP (moderate youth, high parent) (n = 70; 24%), while the third and largest group was in a values match profile, HY_HP (high youth, high parent (n = 151; 51%). Cross-sectional (but not longitudinal) findings showed that youth in the MY_HP profile had higher levels of externalizing problems than the HY_MP profile, χ2 (2, N = 295) = 7.91, p < 0.01, and the HY_HP profile χ2 (2, N = 295) = 16.64, p < 0.01. Youth in the MY_HP profile had higher internalizing problems than youth in the HY_HP profile χ2 (2, N = 295) = 4.45, p < 0.05. No differences were found across profiles in youth acculturative stress or parental depression. Findings suggests the potential benefits of parent-child cultural value congruence. Individual-, family-, and society-level implications are discussed.

SLP Collection

no

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS