College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Spring 6-10-2022

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Antonio Polo, PhD

Second Advisor

Jocelyn Carter, PhD

Abstract

A unique stressor among families of immigrant background is acculturative stress (AS), which is experienced by both adults and youth. AS results from difficulties with acculturation and is associated with negative youth outcomes. Past studies link AS to worse family functioning yet very few studies examine parent and youth AS together. The current study incorporates reports from 284 Latinx youth (Mage = 11.5; 55.6% females) and their parents to examine AS latent profiles. Four profiles emerged in this sample, characterized by high child-low parent (HLAS), low child-high parent (LHAS), moderate child-low parent (MLAS), and low child-low parent (LLAS), AS levels. LLAS emerged as the largest profile group. There were significant differences in parental education and child nativity between groups. Multivariate analyses revealed statistically significant differences in child-reported criticism (HLAS vs. LHAS; HLAS vs. LHAS; LLAS vs. MLAS) and emotional overinvolvement (HLAS vs. LLAS) as well as parent-reported emotional overinvolvement (HLAS vs. LHAS; LHAS vs LLAS) and warmth (LHAS vs. LLAS). Finally, higher youth AS was associated with worse academic outcomes, but statistically significant differences between profile groups were not detected. Suggestions for future research and school-based recommendations are discussed.

Comments

A unique stressor among families of immigrant background is acculturative stress (AS), which is experienced by both adults and youth. AS results from difficulties with acculturation and is associated with negative youth outcomes. Past studies link AS to worse family functioning yet very few studies examine parent and youth AS together. The current study incorporates reports from 284 Latinx youth (Mage = 11.5; 55.6% females) and their parents to examine AS latent profiles. Four profiles emerged in this sample, characterized by high child-low parent (HLAS), low child-high parent (LHAS), moderate child-low parent (MLAS), and low child-low parent (LLAS), AS levels. LLAS emerged as the largest profile group. There were significant differences in parental education and child nativity between groups. Multivariate analyses revealed statistically significant differences in child-reported criticism (HLAS vs. LHAS; HLAS vs. LHAS; LLAS vs. MLAS) and emotional overinvolvement (HLAS vs. LLAS) as well as parent-reported emotional overinvolvement (HLAS vs. LHAS; LHAS vs LLAS) and warmth (LHAS vs. LLAS). Finally, higher youth AS was associated with worse academic outcomes, but statistically significant differences between profile groups were not detected. Suggestions for future research and school-based recommendations are discussed.

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