Abstract
Past research on parentification suggests that adopting adult responsibilities to the point at which the child plays a parental role places children at risk for poor mental and behavioral health outcomes. Since family relations are particularly important in Mexican culture, two hypotheses were posed to examine the indirect effects of parentification on Mexican-heritage youths' substance use via parent-child communication about alcohol, while examining the moderating effects of parent-child closeness. Mexican-heritage youth (N = 697) from 23 public middle schools in Phoenix, AZ completed surveys at three waves. Structural equation modeling results provided partial support for the hypotheses. Mexican-heritage youth experiencing problem-solving parentification were more likely to talk with a parent about alcohol and, in turn, less likely to use substances. This mediation effect, however, was not found with respect to adult parentification, and parent-child closeness was not a significant moderator. Implications for the beneficial effects of problem-solving parentification are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 149-159 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Adolescence |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Mexican-heritage youth
- Parent-child closeness
- Parent-child communication about alcohol
- Parentification
- Substance use
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Social Psychology
Cite this
Does parentification place Mexican-heritage youth at risk for substance use? Identifying the intervening nature of parent-child communication about alcohol. / Shin, YoungJu; Hecht, Michael L.
In: Journal of Adolescence, Vol. 36, No. 1, 02.2013, p. 149-159.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Does parentification place Mexican-heritage youth at risk for substance use? Identifying the intervening nature of parent-child communication about alcohol
AU - Shin, YoungJu
AU - Hecht, Michael L.
PY - 2013/2
Y1 - 2013/2
N2 - Past research on parentification suggests that adopting adult responsibilities to the point at which the child plays a parental role places children at risk for poor mental and behavioral health outcomes. Since family relations are particularly important in Mexican culture, two hypotheses were posed to examine the indirect effects of parentification on Mexican-heritage youths' substance use via parent-child communication about alcohol, while examining the moderating effects of parent-child closeness. Mexican-heritage youth (N = 697) from 23 public middle schools in Phoenix, AZ completed surveys at three waves. Structural equation modeling results provided partial support for the hypotheses. Mexican-heritage youth experiencing problem-solving parentification were more likely to talk with a parent about alcohol and, in turn, less likely to use substances. This mediation effect, however, was not found with respect to adult parentification, and parent-child closeness was not a significant moderator. Implications for the beneficial effects of problem-solving parentification are discussed.
AB - Past research on parentification suggests that adopting adult responsibilities to the point at which the child plays a parental role places children at risk for poor mental and behavioral health outcomes. Since family relations are particularly important in Mexican culture, two hypotheses were posed to examine the indirect effects of parentification on Mexican-heritage youths' substance use via parent-child communication about alcohol, while examining the moderating effects of parent-child closeness. Mexican-heritage youth (N = 697) from 23 public middle schools in Phoenix, AZ completed surveys at three waves. Structural equation modeling results provided partial support for the hypotheses. Mexican-heritage youth experiencing problem-solving parentification were more likely to talk with a parent about alcohol and, in turn, less likely to use substances. This mediation effect, however, was not found with respect to adult parentification, and parent-child closeness was not a significant moderator. Implications for the beneficial effects of problem-solving parentification are discussed.
KW - Mexican-heritage youth
KW - Parent-child closeness
KW - Parent-child communication about alcohol
KW - Parentification
KW - Substance use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871613246&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84871613246&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.10.010
DO - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.10.010
M3 - Article
VL - 36
SP - 149
EP - 159
JO - Journal of Adolescence
JF - Journal of Adolescence
SN - 0140-1971
IS - 1
ER -