Neighborhood and cultural stressors associated with delinquency in Latino adolescents

Abstract

We have no conflict of interest to declare. AbstractResearch has demonstrated a link between community violence exposure (CVE) and delinquency in adolescence, but little is known about the role of cultural stressors in this relation. This study examined the moderating role of acculturation dissonance and ethnic/racial discrimination in the link between CVE and delinquency engagement in a sample of Latino adolescents. Participants for this study included 134 Latino adolescents (46% males, mean age of 16.14, standard deviation = 1.31) recruited from an urban charter high school located in a large Midwestern city. Findings from hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that higher levels of CVE and acculturation dissonance, as well as male gender, were associated with higher levels of delinquency engagement. A significant interaction was also found between CVE and ethnic/racial discrimination. Interaction probing showed that CVE was significantly associated with delinquency engagement at low but not high levels of ethnic/racial discrimination. Findings suggest that it is important to consider multiple types of cultural and neighborhood stressors when assessing and addressing the needs of Latino adolescents.

A systematic review of socioecological factors, community violence exposure, and disparities for Latinx youth

“…Results from prospective studies indicated links between ECV and school drop‐out (Peguero, 2011), aggression (Williams et al., 2014), antisocial behavior (Schilling et al., 2007), weapon involvement (Kemal et al., 2018; Shetgiri et al., 2016), and high‐risk sexual behavior (Brady et al., 2008). Furthermore, there was also evidence of behavioral outcomes across both cross‐sectional and prospective studies that illustrated the links between ECV and behavior problems (Aisenberg, 2001; Foster & Brooks‐Gunn, 2013; Gudiño et al., 2011, 2012, 2018; Peinado et al., 2014; Ramos‐Olazagasti et al., 2013), delinquency or offending (Baskin‐Sommers et al., 2016; Gorman‐Smith et al., 2004; Isom Scott, 2018; Peacock et al., 2003; Rubens et al., 2018; Shukla & Weisner, 2016; Snyder & Merritt, 2014), and substance abuse (Bennett & Joe, 2015; Bermea et al., 2020; Brady et al., 2008, 2009; Cardoso et al., 2016; Goldbach et al., 2015; Poquiz & Fite, 2016; Ramos‐Olazagasti et al., 2017; Russell et al., 2016; Schilling et al., 2007).…”

“…One study demonstrated prospective analyses indicating that ECV was linked to reduced political efficacy (Roy et al., 2019). Among the findings that illustrated links between ECV and physical health outcomes, one cross‐sectional study established an association with sleep problems (Rubens et al., 2018), whereas longitudinal studies revealed that ECV was related to survival expectations (Swisher & Warner, 2013; Warner & Swisher, 2015) and physical health or status (Russell et al., 2016; Swisher & Warner, 2013).…”

The Associations between Contextual and Cultural Stressors, Internalizing Symptoms, and Social Support

“…Limited research examines the role of safety concerns on Latinx adolescents’ well‐being, but other related neighborhood stressors are examined. For example, neighborhood disadvantage is associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms (Rubens et al., 2018). With Mexican American youth, exposure to neighborhood violence was associated with more delinquency among those who experienced low levels of discrimination (Rubens et al., 2018).…”

“…For example, neighborhood disadvantage is associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms (Rubens et al., 2018). With Mexican American youth, exposure to neighborhood violence was associated with more delinquency among those who experienced low levels of discrimination (Rubens et al., 2018). Although a growing body of neighborhood effects literature with Latinx youth exists, there is a lack of representation of multiple Latinx ethnic groups.…”

Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence Across Contexts: Mental Health, Delinquency, and Dating Violence Outcomes Among Mexican Heritage Youth

“…Latinx adolescents, particularly those from low-income urban communities, experience higher rates of violence than non-Latinx youth (Shukla & Wiesner, 2016; Smokowski et al, 2009). Immigrant youth are at greater risk for violence exposure due to risk factors associated with the migration and postmigration process (Rubens et al, 2018) and when they settle into urban U.S. communities marked by crime and poverty (Brady et al, 2008; Jocson et al, 2018). In this sense, cultural considerations cannot be understood apart from larger societal constraints (Herrera & Agoff, 2018).…”