Parent‐Adolescent Language Use and Relationships Among Immigrant Families With East Asian, Filipino, and Latin American Backgrounds

Abstract

ࡗ Parent-Adolescent Language Use and Relationships Among Immigrant Families With East Asian, Filipino, and Latin American BackgroundsThis study examined differences in the quality of relationships between immigrant parents and their adolescent children as a function of the languages with which they speak to one another. Over 620 adolescents with East Asian, Filipino, and Latin American backgrounds completed measures on parent-adolescent language use and relationships. Adolescents who spoke in different languages with their parents reported less cohesion and discussion with their mothers and fathers than did their peers who spoke the same language with their parents. Adolescents who mutually communicated in the native language with their parents reported the highest levels of cohesion and discussion. Longitudinal analyses indicated that whereas language use did not predict differential changes in parent-adolescent relationships over a 2-year period, the quality of relationships did predict changes in language use. The associations between language use and relationships generally existed regardless of the families' ethnic and demographic backgrounds, and these associations did not vary across families of different backgrounds.

Acculturation and Parent-Adolescent Communication about Sex in Filipino-American Families: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study

“…Similar hypotheses about a potentially corrosive effect of U.S. culture on health and well-being have been suggested for Latino immigrant groups [24,25]. One study found that U.S. parents and adolescents from East Asian, Filipino, and Latino backgrounds who continued to communicate in their native language reported better relationship quality than those who communicated in English [26].…”

How culture matters in children’s purchase influence: a multi-level investigation

“…According to Tseng and Fuligni (2000), parents and children who are less discrepant in their acculturation levels are able to use the same language in communicating with each other, increasing the likelihood of parent-child communication and parents' transmission of values onto their children. This shared understanding and communication can foster a positive parent-child relationship within the family (Kim 1995).…”

Embracing Complexity in the Study of Acculturation Gaps: Directions for Future Research

“…There are other aspects of parent-child relationships, however, that may play an important role in understanding the ways in which acculturation gaps function within families. For example, during adolescence, preserving a sense of connection with parents is critical [Steinberg & Silk, 2002], yet acculturation gaps in language preferences and proficiencies can present concrete obstacles to effective communication and problem solving, making it more difficult to discuss sensitive emotional issues and limiting parents' support for their children as they confront the challenges of adolescence and of navigating a multicultural environment [Costigan & Dokis, 2006b;Tseng & Fuligni, 2000;Yee, Huang, & Lew, 1998]. This reduction in feelings of connection, belonging, or sense of being understood may negatively impact youth adjustment independent of levels of parent-child conflict.…”