Acculturation and Aggression in Latino Adolescents: Modeling Longitudinal Trajectories from the Latino Acculturation and Health Project

Abstract

This study examines how multiple indicators of adolescent and parent acculturation relate to longitudinal trajectories of Latino adolescent aggression. The hierarchical linear modeling analysis is based on a final sample of 256 adolescents paired with one parent. Of the adolescents, 66% were born outside of the United States and the remaining 34% were US-born. Families lived in two sites: 38% lived in North Carolina and 62% lived in Arizona. The overall trajectory of Latino adolescent aggression displays a statistically significant negative trend best characterized by a quadratic curve. We delineate significant risk factors related to aggression levels, and show that gender, age, parent-reported acculturation conflicts, and adolescent-reported parent-adolescent conflicts are associated with higher levels of adolescent aggression. We discuss the study limitations, implications of the findings, and fertile ground for future research.

Cross-Gender Social Normative Effects for Violence in Middle School: Do Girls Carry a Social Multiplier Effect for At-Risk Boys?

“…Namely, a strong and consistent (negative) effect of speaking Spanish or another language at home was found in the results of the quantile regression models among girls, although this finding was unanticipated. There is some existing research linking acculturation with increased levels of aggression (e.g., Smokowski & Bacallao, 2006; Smokowski, Rose & Bacallao, 2009). However, the current study was not designed to test this hypothesis with due care, and we do not wish to overstep the limitations of our study’s current design in interpreting these effects.…”

Patterns of Dating Violence Victimization and Perpetration among Latino Youth

“…Although limited, research with Latino youth suggests that acculturation indicators (e.g., being born in the US, speaking English at home, lower levels of Hispanicism) and acculturation conflict are associated with increased risk of experiencing and/or engaging in dating violence (Gonzalez-Guarda et al 2014; Malhotra et al 2015; Reyes et al 2016; Smokowski, David-Ferdon, et al 2009). Explanations for these linkages include the notions that: (1) assimilating youth may adopt behaviors (e.g., substance use) tolerated (or endorsed) by the host society that increase risk for dating violence; (2) retention of culture-of-origin identity by parents and teens may contribute to positive mental health outcomes (e.g., self-esteem, ethnic pride) and beliefs (e.g., belief in the importance of family; conservative attitudes toward dating and sex) that lower risk of involvement in dating violence; and (3) acculturation conflict may precipitate individual and family stress that leads adolescents to engage in risk behaviors that increase risk for dating violence (Malhotra et al 2015; Smokowski, Rose, et al 2009; Guilamo-Ramos et al 2009)…”

The Effects of Acculturation on Intimate Partner Violence Among Chinese Immigrants in New York City

“…The lower level of acculturation is positively correlated with various forms of violent mentation and behavior such as suicidal ideation, interpersonal aggression, depression, and IPV (Caetano et al 2000;Hovey 2000;Wei et al 2007;Smokowski et al 2009). For example, among Somali refugee women who have experienced IPV, Nilsson et al (2008) found that less acculturated women are more likely to experience both psychological abuse and physical aggression from their partners compared to more acculturated women.…”