The Socialization of Prosocial Behavioral Tendencies Among Mexican American Adolescents: The Role of Familism Values

Carlos O. Calderón-Tena, George P. Knight, Gustavo Carlo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigates the role of familism values in fostering socialization experiences that promote prosocial behavioral tendencies among Mexican American adolescents. Two hundred and four Mexican American mothers and their adolescent children (104 girls, age M = 10.91 years) completed measures of familism values, prosocial parenting practices, and prosocial behavioral tendencies. Structural equation modeling tests indicated that mothers' familism values are related to parenting behaviors that promote prosocial behavioral tendencies, which in turn are related to adolescents' perception of prosocial parenting practices. Furthermore, adolescents' perception of prosocial parenting practices is related to familism values and prosocial behavior tendencies. Last, the relation between adolescents' perception of prosocial parenting practices and prosocial behavioral tendencies is partially mediated by familism values. These findings are consistent with the theoretical suggestion that the transmission of traditional familism values may serve as a social medium through which prosocial behavioral tendencies are fostered among Mexican American adolescents.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)98-106
Number of pages9
JournalCultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2011

Keywords

  • Cultural socialization
  • Familism values
  • Mexican American families
  • Prosocial behaviors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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