Beyond acculturation: an investigation of the relationship of familism and parenting to behavior problems in Hispanic youth.

In the adolescent research literature, acculturation processes have been linked to the development of serious behavior problems in Hispanic adolescents, but not enough is known about how that process takes place. This article reports an investigation that sought to shed light on empirically plausible mechanisms by which family processes (i.e., familism and parenting practices) may operate as mediators of acculturation-related factors on adolescent problem behaviors among 167 Hispanic sixth- or seventh-grade early adolescents. SEM analyses identified an empirically plausible mediated pathway through which parenting practices may operate as a mediator of the effects of acculturation-related variables on adolescent problem behaviors. Second, although the role of familism as a mediator was not supported, the results did provide support for familism having indirect effects on behavior problems also through parenting practices. The findings are discussed in the context of existing research and clinical developments in the treatment of Hispanic adolescents and families.

Globalización e identidad personal y global en universitarios colombianos, chinos, hindúes y norteamericanos / Globalization and personal and global identity in colombian, chinese, hindu and american students

Este estudio pretendió identificar la relación entre el estatus de identidad personal y el de identidad global, y entre la experiencia de globalización y el desarrollo de la identidad, en 717 universitarios: colombianos, chinos, norteamericanos e hindúes. Las medidas utilizadas fueron el EIPQ, el inventariode identidad global, el Factor de experiencias de Globalización y el Inventario de distress de identidad. El análisis de resultados permitió identificar relaciones significativas (Rho de Spearman=0.309, p=0,01) entre el Factor de Experiencias de Globalización y el estatus de identidad personal y asociaciones significativas (Chi-cuadrado con nivel de significancia < 0.05) entre el estatus de identidad personal y global y la presencia dedesordenes/problemas de identidad. Las comparaciones entre muestras se realizaron con estadístico de Kruskal-Wallis y resultaron significativas paratodas las variables evaluadas. Se observan diferencias importantes entre las muestras chinos e hindúes que son analizadas en la discusión a la luz de losantecedentes empíricos.

The main purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between status of personal identity and global identity, and between the experience of globalization and identity development in 717 college student of different nationalities i.e. Colombians, Chinese, Americans and Hindus. The measures used were EIPQ, the inventory of global identity, the experience factor of Globalization and the Inventory of identity distress. The analyses of results revealed significant relationships (Spearman Rho = 0.309, p = O, 01) between the Experiences of Globalization´s factor and the status ofpersonal identity and significant relationships (Chi-square with significance level <0.05) between status and personal identity and the global presence of disorders / problems of identity. Comparisons between samples were per-formed using Kruskal-Wallis statistic and were significant for all variables. Also, found were significant differences between the Hindus and Chinese samples which were analyzed in light of the empirical background in the discussion.

A randomized controlled trial of a parent-centered intervention in preventing substance use and HIV risk behaviors in Hispanic adolescents.

The present study evaluated the efficacy of Familias Unidas + Parent-Preadolescent Training for HIV Prevention (PATH), a Hispanic-specific, parent-centered intervention, in preventing adolescent substance use and unsafe sexual behavior. Two hundred sixty-six 8th-grade Hispanic adolescents and their primary caregivers were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: Familias Unidas + PATH, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) + PATH, and ESOL + HeartPower! for Hispanics (HEART). Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postbaseline. Results showed that (a) Familias Unidas + PATH was efficacious in preventing and reducing cigarette use relative to both control conditions; (b) Familias Unidas + PATH was efficacious, relative to ESOL + HEART, in reducing illicit drug use; and (c) Familias Unidas + PATH was efficacious, relative to ESOL + PATH, in reducing unsafe sexual behavior. The effects of Familias Unidas + PATH on these distal outcomes were partially mediated by improvements in family functioning. These findings suggest that strengthening the family system, rather than targeting specific health behaviors, may be most efficacious in preventing and/or reducing cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, and unsafe sex in Hispanic adolescents.

The prevention of HIV transmission in Hispanic adolescents.

This article reviews the state of the science in HIV prevention for Hispanic adolescents. The article discusses the importance of preventing HIV in Hispanic adolescents. Literature is reviewed in three broad areas: (1) the prevalence rates of drug and alcohol misuse, sexual practices, and HIV infection; (2) risk and protective factors for drug and alcohol misuse and unprotected sex (in general and specifically for Hispanics); and (3) the state of HIV prevention intervention development and evaluation targeting Hispanic youth. Seven specific recommendations are advanced in areas that have the potential to further the field of HIV prevention for Hispanic adolescents.

Differences in family functioning in grandparent and parent-headed households in a clinical sample of drug-using African American adolescents.

Grandparents play a critical role in African American families, providing support and important leadership functions. Little is known, however, about family functioning in grandparent-headed households with a drug-using adolescent. Such knowledge is particularly salient for researchers and therapists who work with drug-using adolescents and their families. Using a clinical sample of convenience, analyses were conducted to identify similarities and differences in adolescent substance use and behavior problems, family relationships, and family social ecology relationships between African American grandparent-headed (n=12) and parent-headed (n=54) households. Results indicated that adolescents from the 2 household types reported similar levels of problem behaviors, but that grandparents reported less delinquency with peers than did parents. Primary caregivers in grandparent-headed households reported less monitoring and supervision of peers and less within-family conflict. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Familias Unidas: the efficacy of an intervention to promote parental investment in Hispanic immigrant families.

This paper reports a test of the efficacy of Familias Unidas, a Hispanic-specific, ecologically focused, parent-centered preventive intervention, in promoting protection against and reducing risk for adolescent behavior problems. Specifically, the intervention was designed to foster parental investment, reduce adolescent behavior problems, and promote adolescent school bonding/academic achievement, all protective factors against drug abuse and delinquency. One-hundred sixty seven Hispanic families of 6th and 7th grade students from three South Florida public schools were stratified by grade within school and randomly assigned to intervention and no-intervention control conditions. Results indicated that Familias Unidas was efficacious in increasing parental investment and decreasing adolescent behavior problems, but that it did not significantly impact adolescent school bonding/academic achievement. Summer-vacation rates of adolescent behavior problems were six times higher in the control condition than in the intervention condition. Furthermore, change in parental investment during the intervention was predictive of subsequent levels of adolescent behavior problems. The findings suggest that Familias Unidas is efficacious in promoting protection and reducing risk for adolescent problem behaviors in poor immigrant Hispanic families.

Ethnic differences in comorbidity among substance-abusing adolescents referred to outpatient therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in psychiatric comorbidity between African-American and Hispanic substance-abusing adolescents referred for outpatient therapy. METHOD: Participants were 167 substance-abusing adolescents and their family members who completed an intake assessment. As part of the intake assessment, adolescents and parents were administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Predictive Scales to screen for the presence of nine psychiatric diagnoses representing both externalizing and internalizing disorders. RESULTS: Both African-American and Hispanic youths presented with high-above-threshold symptom rates of co-occurring disorders. However, both adolescents and parents reported that Hispanic youths (78.3% and 83.9%, respectively) demonstrated greater rates of externalizing symptoms than African-American youths (65.2% and 70.1%, respectively). African-American youths (40%) reported significantly more symptoms of agoraphobia than Hispanic youths (19.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of high rates of co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems provides evidence of the need for developing and implementing multifaceted interventions that address the complex emotional and behavioral needs of adolescent substance abusers. Among Hispanic youths in particular, treatments must address constellations of problem behaviors that appear to co-occur and likely represent the child's entrenchment in a deviant subculture.