Familismo, ethnic identity, and bicultural stress as predictors of Mexican American adolescents’ positive psychological functioning.

Abstract

Through the use of the cultural-ecological-transactional theory of resilience, the present study seeks to determine if the cultural factors of familismo and ethnic identity have a protective effect and if bicultural stress has a risk effect on the positive psychological functioning of 191 Mexican American adolescents. Two hierarchical linear regressions were preformed to determine the direct and interaction effects of these factors on self-esteem and life satisfaction. Results indicate that familismo values and ethnic identity both significantly and positively predicted self-esteem and life satisfaction. Further, bicultural stress significantly and negatively predicted both self-esteem and life satisfaction. Additionally, there was a significant interaction effect between ethnic identity and bicultural stress on life satisfaction; however, the interaction was contrary to the hypothesis that high ethnic identity would protect against the effect of high levels of bicultural stress. Results are discussed within the cultural-ecological-transactional framework.

Factors and conditions promoting academic resilience: a TIMSS-based analysis of five Asian education systems

“…This model postulates constant interaction of sociocultural factors at the individual level, thus playing a proximal role. As (Piña-Watson et al 2013) explain, through the use of this model, cultural processes that children experience can be accounted for in a way that reflects dynamic and proximal relationships between the different component systems. Kuperminc et al (2009) asserted that issues of minority status in countries such as those analyzed here, i.e., socioeconomic stratification, gender roles, immigration status, language spoken in the home and the socially assigned value of education, were determinants of the context in which children live.…”

Understanding Humanistic and Family Predictors of Mexican American College Students’ Subjective Happiness

“…This finding suggests that as the amount of familism increases, the level of subjective happiness increases. Other researchers also have found that family values and support influenced life satisfaction among Latina/o high school students (Pina‐Watson et al, ) and adolescents (Edwards & Lopez, ) as well as among Mexican American adolescents (Pina‐Watson et al, ; Vela, Lenz, et al, ). Perceived family support and support from others also predicted happiness for immigrant women in Spain (Dominguez‐Fuentes & Hombrados‐Mendieta, ).…”

“…A sample response item is “My family is always there for me in times of need.” Reliability coefficients for scores on the total scale were measured in previous samples using coefficient alpha. Pina‐Watson, Ojeda, Castellon, and Dornhecker () found an alpha of .87 in a study regarding Mexican American adolescents’ positive psychological functioning. The internal consistency of this scale in the current study was .83.…”

Using Humanistic and Positive Psychology to Understand Mexican American Adolescents' Subjective Happiness

“…This finding suggests that as the amount of familism increases, the level of subjective happiness increases. Pina‐Watson et al () found that family values and support influenced Latina/o high school students' life satisfaction. Edwards and Lopez () noted that family support had an impact on Mexican American adolescents' life satisfaction.…”

“…Reliability coefficients for scores on the total scale were measured in previous samples by using coefficient alpha. Other researchers reported acceptable internal reliability (α = .87; Pina‐Watson et al, ). The internal consistency of this scale in the current study was .91.…”