Explaining the Cultural Retention–Delinquency Relationship Using Differential Support and Coercion Theory: A Study of Native‐Born and Immigrant Latino Youth

Abstract

Objective Although immigrants tend to have lower involvement in delinquency, increasing levels of acculturation to American society may lead to higher levels of delinquency. Conversely, cultural retention typically reduces such behavior. To explain these findings, this study employs differential coercion and support theory to predict that cultural retention is inversely associated with delinquency through associations with greater social support and less coercion. Method Using a large, national‐level sample of Latino native‐born and immigrant youth, analyses are conducted using both ordinary least squares (OLS) and logistic regression. Results Findings support hypotheses, showing that increases in cultural retention are associated with less coercion and more social support, both of which are, in turn, related to delinquency. Importantly, an initial strong inverse relationship between cultural retention and delinquency disappears when coercion and social support are controlled. Conclusion Higher social support and lower coercion help explain the inverse relationship between cultural retention and delinquency among native‐born and immigrant Latino youth.

Life Domains and Dating Violence Among Latino Youth: A Partial Test of Agnew’s Integrated General Theory

“…Furthermore, enculturation was somewhat surprisingly nonsignificant. Prior research has found that enculturation decreases criminal behavior (Zavala et al, 2020). However, this was not the case here.…”

Expanding and Testing a Latinx Differential Coercion and Social Support Theory of Crime

“…Another important source of social support may come in the form of enculturation, or the retention of immigrant culture. Defined as the process of adaptation to one’s ethnic culture (Cano & Castillo, 2010), research on enculturation shows associations with a reduced likelihood of delinquency among youth (Zavala et al, 2020). This may be because enculturation represents a source of social support, whereby strong connections are maintained to the traditional cultural values and norms of the country of origin, often including language usage.…”

“…First, this study answers the call made by progressive scholars to establish and test theories that take into account how the particular life experiences of marginalized individuals influence their likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior (Unnever et al, 2020). While the link between acculturation and crime is well documented in the literature, exactly why this is the case is starting to become clearer among Latinx youth (Zavala et al, 2020), but not, as of yet, on Latinx adults. Second, solely focusing on Agnew’s (2006) general strain theory and its reformulation into Latinx general strain theory may prevent other correlates outside of strain from being discovered.…”

“…Furthermore, social support prevents criminal behavior and is defined by Colvin et al (2002; p. 20) as “the delivery (or perceived delivery) of assistance from communities, social networks, and confiding partners in meeting the instrumental and expressive needs of individuals.” Given the strong cultural aspect of familismo— the concept that describes a strong sense of dedication and service to family — Latinx may have stronger family support which they can turn to in times of conflict, thus reducing the odds of engaging in criminal behavior, including acts of interpersonal violence against intimate partners (Zavala & Muniz, 2020). Other forms of social support may come from being in an extended or multigenerational family (Chavez-Korell et al, 2014); the presence of familismo (German et al, 2009); being enculturated to Mexico (Zavala et al, 2020); and being surrounded by high levels of neighborhood cohesion, collective efficacy, and social capital (Ramey, 2013; Browning et al, 2016). We contend that these venues of social support will reduce acts of family violence because family members may turn to these support networks in times of conflict.…”

Explaining Latinx Youth Delinquency: A Gendered Test of Latinx General Strain Theory

“…Studies have shown a consistent relationship between acculturation and crime, showing that a greater level of acculturation among Latinx is asscoaited with an increased risk for future criminal engagement (Bersani, 2014; Jennings et al, 2013). Existing scholarship has also linked acculturation to alcohol and drug use (Gil et al, 2000), criminal and delinquent behavior (Zavala et al, 2020), and physical aggression (Maldonado-Molina et al, 2010). For example, Perez et al (2008) examined how ethnic-specific strains – including measures of acculturation (e.g., nativity and language proficiency) – unique to Latinx adolescents were related to violent delinquency.…”