Multiple mediators of the effects of acculturation status on delinquency for Mexican American adolescents

Roxana Y. Samaniego, Nancy Gonzales

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

177 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research has shown that more acculturated Latino adolescents are at increased risk for delinquent behavior relative to their less acculturated counterparts. The present study examined the mediating effects of seven variables hypothesized to account for the empirical link between acculturation status and delinquent activity for a sample of Mexican American adolescents. Mediational analyses provided support for four of the putative mediators which included family conflict, maternal monitoring, inconsistent discipline, and negative peer hassles. Examined together, these variables totally mediated the effect of acculturation status on delinquent behavior. In addition, family conflict and maternal monitoring uniquely accounted for a significant proportion of the mediated variance above that explained by the other variables in the model. Adolescent's cultural identity, perceived discrimination, and maternal acceptance were not supported as mediators.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)189-210
Number of pages22
JournalAmerican journal of community psychology
Volume27
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Acculturation
  • Delinquency
  • Family conflict
  • Parenting
  • Peer hassles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Applied Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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