Mexican-Origin Early Adolescents’ Ethnic Socialization, Ethnic Identity, and Psychosocial Functioning

Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor, Megan O'Donnell, George P. Knight, Mark W. Roosa, Cady Berkel, Rajni Nair

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined how parental ethnic socialization informed adolescents’ ethnic identity (EI) development and, in turn, youths’ psychosocial functioning (i.e., mental health, social competence, academic efficacy, externalizing behaviors) among 749 Mexican-origin families. In addition, school ethnic composition was examined as a moderator of these associations. Findings indicated that mothers’ and fathers’ ethnic socialization were significant longitudinal predictors of adolescents’ EI, although fathers’ ethnic socialization interacted significantly with youths’ school ethnic composition in fifth grade to influence EI in seventh grade. Furthermore, adolescents’ EI was significantly associated with increased academic self-efficacy and social competence, and decreased depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors. Findings support theoretical predictions regarding the central role parents play in Mexican-origin adolescents’ normative developmental processes and adjustment and, importantly, underscore the need to consider variability that is introduced into these processes by features of the social context such as school ethnic composition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)170-200
Number of pages31
JournalThe Counseling Psychologist
Volume42
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2014

Keywords

  • Mexican origin
  • early adolescents
  • ethnic identity
  • ethnic socialization
  • psychosocial adjustment
  • social context

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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