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Stress is widely known to have debilitating effects on physical health and mental wellbeing, particularly on one's coping styles, personality traits, and outlook on life. Cumulative and chronic stress, which can serve as a triggering or aggravating factor for many pathological disorders if left unaddressed, has been linked to many life-threatening diseases. While many studies have looked at how optimism and pessimism are used as a form of coping mechanism, few have examined how different bio-psycho-social reactions to stress shape the level of optimism and pessimism. Using a sample of adult individuals aged 18 and older in the United States (n = 3361), this study addressed the following research questions: (1) What types of stress are predictive of optimism and pessimism? (2) Which responses to stress and coping mechanisms are most predictive of optimism and pessimism? (3) Do optimism and pessimism share the same stress-related risk and protective factors? Overall, this study found that while optimism and pessimism share conceptual similarities, they are not necessarily influenced by the same stress mechanisms. Stress, whether personal or financial, was associated with a negative outlook on life. This study showed that having good sleep quality and a lower number of psychological stress symptoms was linked to increasing optimism and reducing pessimism, while overeating or eating unhealthily was connected to both optimism and pessimism. Additionally, this study found that exercise/walking and emotional support mediated the effects of the responses to stress on the respondents' level of optimism and pessimism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the predictors of loneliness, with a focus on the roles that discrimination plays and how it intersects with gender and educational attainment among three subgroups of adults at different life stages (young, middle, and late adulthood). In sum, our study found that the link between discrimination and loneliness varied across age groups, making the examination of its root cause from the ecological perspective and identifying symptoms/triggers for loneliness critical in developing different targeted interventions. Findings from this study can be used to guide social work intervention efforts undertaken to prevent and reduce loneliness [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using two waves of data from a multi-wave longitudinal survey of Hispanic origin young adults (n = 1,547), this study examined the empirical links between physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration, and two key social risk factors in emerging adulthood (high-risk sexual behavior and poor mental health). Respondents were recruited from the Los Angeles, CA area. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analyses. Overall, our analyses found that incidents of IPV at an earlier time point predicted experiencing IPV at a later time point in a similar fashion, indicating that IPV persisted over time. Additionally, this study found that physical and psychological IPV often co-occurred, irrespective of the direction of the violence (perpetration or victimization). Next, respondents who reported a greater number of lifetime sexual partners and poor mental health reported more physical IPV perpetration. Among the socio-demographics, male respondents were more likely to face IPV physical victimization but less likely to perpetrate this form of violence than their female counterparts. This study highlights the importance of examining the co-occurrence, bidirectionality, and persistence of IPV in understanding its dynamic mechanisms, advancing risk identification, and developing preventive measures to mitigate IPV risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on violence is an urgent public health concern affecting millions of individuals, families, and communities annually in the US. Topics include widespread community issue that can affect anyone in all life stages regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race, socio-economic status; and violence can be reduced across communities over time and many individual acts of violence are preventable with effective intervention.

Well-integrated and productive communities are an asset to the development and advancement of our nation, and they have an important role to play in planning, learning, and enforcing safety to enhance national and border security. REACH (Resilience, Education, Action, Commitment, and Humanity) is a community-based project housed at The University of Texas at El Paso that aims to prevent targeted violence and domestic terrorism in El Paso County. We integrated three frameworks (i.e., Whole Community Preparedness, Socio-Ecological Model, and Global Citizen Education) to involve local residents in efforts to combat and mitigate targeted violence. REACH had two goals: to (1) prevent targeted violence and domestic terrorism through education, outreach, and community capacity-building aimed at identifying and deterring radicalization (primary prevention) and (2) reduce the short-term and long-term impact and prevent re-occurrence of targeted violence and domestic terrorism (secondary and tertiary prevention). Overall, our project served 8,934 participants directly and reached many more through our media cavmpaigns and outreach efforts during our 2 years of project implementation (2021–2023). Our project design may serve as an implementation model for other community-based projects on the U.S.-Mexico border and can be replicated with other target populations in the U.S. Insights and lessons learned from this project are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined illicit drug use and substance abuse disorders among Hispanic emerging adults using a two time-point study. Hypothesized predictors included concurrent use of different types of substances in adolescence and early adulthood (illicit drug use, binge alcohol use, and cigarette-smoking), along with the socialization context (family, peer, school, and other contextual factors) in adolescence. Overall, the findings showed that emerging adults who engaged in binge use of alcohol reported higher levels of illicit drug use and substance abuse disorders. Smoking cigarettes was associated with higher levels of illicit drug use in emerging adulthood, but not substance use disorders. Illicit drug use and binge alcohol use in adolescence were linked to higher levels of illicit drug use in emerging adulthood. Further, respondents who engaged in higher levels of illicit drug use, binge drinking, and smoking in adolescence were more likely to report higher levels of substance use disorders in early adulthood, signaling the importance of assessing adolescent drug use as a critical period for curbing long-term substance use-related impairment. Sibling alcohol use, college aspirations, and perceived discrimination during adolescence were also predictive of higher levels of substance use disorders in early adulthood. Higher academic achievement in adolescence, however, was associated with lower levels of illicit drug use in emerging adulthood. Lastly, males reported higher levels of illicit drug use and substance abuse disorders than females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the empirical link between substance use, and family, school, and contextual factors relevant to emerging adulthood and Mexican-origin emerging adults' sexual risk-taking behavior using a longitudinal design that followed the respondents from adolescence to emerging adulthood (n = 520). Overall, we found that engaging in one high-risk sexual behavior was associated with higher odds of engaging in another. While alcohol and substance use was associated with higher odds of engaging in risky sexual behavior, living with parents, having at least one parent who was a college graduate, sharing a higher level of parental closeness, being more bicultural, starting college, a new school, or classes, and feeling like an adult were associated with lower odds of engaging in sexual risk-taking behavior. Contrary to the study hypothesis, a higher level of family cohesion was associated with higher odds of such behavior. Lastly, male respondents tended to have more than 3 sexual partners but were less likely to not use condoms compared with their female counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using purposive sampling and in-depth interviews of 40 ethnic-racial minority immigrants (first-, 1.5-, and second- generations) on the US-Mexico border, this study examined factors that facilitated and hindered decisions to volunteer. Overall, analyses based on the Grounded Theory Method indicated that the participants' proclivity to volunteer was driven by multifaceted factors related to the availability of their personal resources, altruistic concerns over the welfare of the disadvantaged, cost-benefit analyses that factored opportunity cost in decision-making, self-interest, and personal benefits accrued. Specifically, volunteering could be used as a venue to foster professional career development, attain personal growth, reap emotional benefits, and fulfil altruistic callings. Factors that deterred the participants from volunteering consisted of value clashes with the agency management, personality conflicts with other volunteers, challenges confronted in working with difficult client populations, and time constraints. This study also supported the resource perspective where participants with more personal resources such as time, network, knowledge, values, skill sets, and expertise were able to volunteer in a wider variety of capacities. Study findings can be used to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion in volunteering, remove barriers that hinder involvement, and encourage contribution from this growing segment of the U.S. population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using convenience and purposive sampling, this study examined the aspiration-attainment gap and occupational health risks that 40 Mexican origin migrant farm workers faced and the personal resources they drew from to overcome adversities. Data were collected from a community farm worker agency in El Paso, Texas in 2018. Overall, this study showed that participants confronted a series of social impediments and structural disadvantages (economic hardship, low wages, limited formal education, lack of work experience besides farming, systemic deprivation, discrimination, and dangerous workplace). Optimism, familism, spirituality, and perseverance were among the strategies they relied on to foster resilience and bridge the aspiration-attainment gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using in-depth face-to-face interviews, this study explored 34 homeless shelter workers' perceptions of homelessness and working with the homeless. We asked the following questions: 1) What were the barriers that homeless shelter residents faced in combating homelessness, from the perspective of the homeless shelter workers? 2) What were the challenges that homeless shelter workers encountered in working with this at-risk population? Our findings shared the realities that the homeless population faced from the lens of shelter workers with different job responsibilities (ranging from customer service workers to case managers, program directors/coordinators, and shelter administrators). Overall, we found that working with the homeless community could present a challenge for shelter workers given the limited availability of funding, discrepancies in agreement of solutions, the lack of qualified helping professionals, the limits of service coordination, preconceived judgment/prejudice from the public, and a series of obstacles that the homeless population faces including barriers to accessing services, employability, personal hardship, and social stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing insights from the life course perspective, this study examined individual and contextual factors that shaped volunteering practices among ethnic-racial minority immigrants across their life course. Using purposive sampling, 40 ethnic-racial minority immigrants at various stages of adulthood (18–65 years old) were recruited from a southwestern U.S. state on the US-Mexico border in 2018 to participate in an in-depth interview to better understand how their personal experiences, ecologies, and life histories influenced their volunteering practices. Grounded Theory Method was used to analyze the data. Overall, the participants' volunteering propensities were influenced by (1) significant life events that served as turning points that motivated their desire to help, (2) linked lives in connection with their personal and professional life domains, (3) human capital and agency that served as their resources in volunteering and access to volunteering opportunities, and (4) the context that made volunteering conducive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shift in the technology landscape has altered the technology ecosystem of adolescents and emerging adults in the 21st century. Yet, with greater use of digital gadgets comes greater mental health risks that technological advancement brings. This study provides a narrative review of contemporary cyber risks faced by adolescents and emerging adults. In particular, this review will cover dangers and effects of cyber-bullying, social media, cyber-dating violence, sextortion, sexting, revenge porn, online dating, catfishing, and scammers, with an emphasis to raise awareness and encourage proactive efforts dedicated to address these social concerns as the digital era continues to evolve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from a cross-sectional sample of seventh to twelfth graders who attended northeastern schools between 2011 and 2012, we examined the associations between psycho-emotional dating violence and cyber, physical, and sexual violence Overall, we found that respondents experienced more than one type of dating violence simultaneously, indicating the prevalence of co-occurrence in dating violence. Further, being a victim of psycho-emotional violence was associated with perpetrating similar types of violence, suggesting the bidirectional nature of this type of aggression. Among the covariates, we found that peer bullying, cyber bullying, cell phone usage, the respondents' age, gender, and grades were risk factors for psycho-emotional violence. The findings may be used to guide dating violence intervention efforts and the development of school based and family-oriented treatment plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International travelers, who consist of a large proportion of the U.S. population, play a critical role in sustaining public health and homeland security. This study examined the life course and contextual factors that increased propensities for high-risk sexual behaviors and attitudes among international travelers. Forty-five frequent international travelers were recruited through purposive sampling to participate in an in-depth semi-structured interview to understand factors facilitating transmission of sexual health risks. Contrary to many quantitatively oriented travel and public health studies, this study was able to capture rich information (e.g., emotions, thought processing, decision-making process, context of risk) not easily available through traditional quantitative method of data collection (e.g., survey). Overall, study findings show that life transitions, factors weakening social control or self-control, and strengthening anonymity can promote a context that increases sexual exchanges between locals and travelers while abroad. This research calls for more public health, epidemiological, and social behavioral data that better depict the vulnerability that international travelers confront. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the International Dating Violence Study, this study examined the roles of early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics factors on physical aggression in dating among U.S. college students in emerging adulthood. The interaction effects between these three domains of interest (early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics) were explored to understand the underlying mechanisms that influenced victimization and perpetration in dating. In general, we found that family and relational variables associated with dating victimization and perpetration were fairly similar. Among the early socialization variables, experience of childhood neglect and having witnessed domestic violence were significantly related to victimization and perpetration. Living in a two-parent household appeared to exert a protective effect, although associations with parental education were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the participants were more likely to experience victimization or impose aggression in dating relationships which were characterized by conflicts, distress, dominance, or psychological aggression. Overall, for the participants who came from a two-parent household, dominance in dating was linked to less violence. When the participants faced higher levels of psychological aggression, adverse early socialization factors were associated with higher levels of dating violence victimization and perpetration. Research and practice implications were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debates on the mental health benefits associated with immigration are mixed. On the one hand, immigrants are provided with more opportunities not available in their home countries. On the other hand, they are far away from home and may have been exposed to traumatic experiences on their journeys to the receiving country. Even after settling down in the receiving country, most continue to face legal battles associated with their immigration status, as shown in this study. This study examined the risk and protective factors associated with the mental health conditions in a sample of 39 immigrants and refugees seeking legal services on the US-Mexico border. Participants were recruited from a southwestern community agency serving the region’s immigrant population over the past three decades. Negative mental health states including stress, sadness, and anxiety were frequently reported by the participants. Six themes were identified as significantly related to the participants’ adjustment in the US: (1) political turmoil and safety issues; (2) economic hardship and extreme poverty; (3) trauma before and after resettlement; (4) immigration status; (5) family relational strain; and (6) identity struggle and acculturation. Overall, results demonstrate the complexity of issues pertaining to cross-country migration, cultural sensitivities, and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanics are frequently categorized under one homogeneous group in existing intimate partner violence research, presenting a challenge for practitioners and researchers interested in assessing potentially unique public health concerns of each subgroup. Using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study examined the family- and community-related determinants of intimate partner violence experienced by mothers of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. The respondents' self-reported physical violence and power control are two key measures of IPV. Our study found statistical differences between the Mexican and Puerto Rican origin respondents' experiences with IPV. Specifically, father infidelity and parenting concordance functioned as risk and protective factors, respectively, for the Mexican origin mothers' experiences of relational violence. In the case of the Puerto Rican origin respondents, higher level of spousal support, collective efficacy, and social disorganization were linked to less violence, while increased emotional distance and higher level of baseline education were associated with more violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the significance of three macro social determinants (i.e., family, neighborhood, and school factors) on the educational aspirations and integration of social work minority undergraduate students using a qualitative study of 40 interviews. Two research questions were raised: (1) how did family, neighborhood, and school contextual factors account for the participants’ postsecondary education in social work, a study that places more emphasis on the attainment of humanitarian goals over future economic outlook? and (2) what roles did family, neighborhood, and school play in shaping these participants’ postsecondary educational aspirations and integration? Overall, educationally resilient participants received strong family support but also encountered social roadblocks, stigmatization, and racial discrimination in the mainstream culture. Ironically, these social challenges also served as the major driving forces that inspired them to pursue their postsecondary education and major in social work. The findings of this study urge the general public and higher educational settings to develop more cultural sensitivity, validate unique contribution, and promote equality of cultural diversity among minority social work students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing data collected from 17 Hispanic exconvicts, this study examined the challenges of postincarceration reintegration from the perspective of general strain theory. Our use of intensive interviewing techniques allowed the participants to describe their cognitive function, stress, coping mechanisms, and perceptions of discrimination, and how these issues contributed to their well-being and potential recidivism. Participants were recruited from a federal halfway house in Southwestern Texas. Overall, we found that the exconvict participants in this study carried the burden of their criminal history heavily and endured public penalties and economic consequences associated with their incarceration. Practice implications and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Borrowing insights from concepts that have been shown to predict deviant or criminal outcomes (i.e., social bonding, personal control, and strain), this study examined dating violence from the perpetrators’ and gender-relevance perspective among young college students (18–25 years old). This study raised 2 research questions: Were social bonding, personal control, and strain associated with college dating violence? How did these associations differ by gender? In sum, 2 types of social bonding (commitment to goal attainment and spending time with delinquent peers) were linked to psychological aggression in dating. Whereas self-control was negatively related to dating violence perpetration, antisocial tendencies were associated with physical aggression. Further, all the strain measures (i.e., daily hassles, relationship distress, and couple conflict) had a positive association with dating violence. When gender was considered, self-control had a protective effect for women and antisocial tendencies served as a risk factor for increased psychological violence among men. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life Study, this study examined the association of peer, family, attitudinal, aspirational, and attainment factors relevant to 820 young women’s (aged 18–19) number of sexual partners. Overall, this study found that perceived peer norms and early onset of sexual initiation had a positive and statistically significant association with the respondents’ number of lifetime sexual partners. While high school performance and college aspirations were inversely associated with the number of lifetime partners, their current level of educational attainment was not. Finally, racial disparities in the accrual of partners were contingent upon the respondents’ attitude to premarital abstinence and educationally related factors. Understanding risk and protective factors may help public health policy planners and health care professionals formulate a more effective ecologically based approach to mitigate sexual health risks and social repercussion related to dating for young women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilising semi-structured interviews, this study investigated various educational determinants contributing to college major selection and career choice of 40 undergraduates who had been admitted to a social work programme in southwestern United States. Major key principles of the life course approach were incorporated in this study to elucidate the participants’ educational aspirations. Five common life themes (i.e. (1) career transitions, (2) significant life events and turning points, (3) linked lives, (4) altruism and social justice and (5) rational choice) were developed to illustrate the salient factors that steered their educational pathways. Although the majority of the participants exhibited similarities in social background, life perception and professional outlook, the routes undertaken by each participant differed vastly, signalling the complexity of each participant’s life course. These findings revealed that even the most pragmatic and rational decision-making process is not context-free. Research findings were discussed in relevance to contemporary practice implications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS), this study examined the links between strain, psychological conflicts, aspiration-attainment gap, and depressive tendencies of 755 youth of Mexican origin. Two research questions were raised: (a) What types of strain and psychological conflict induced depressive tendencies? (b) What types of aspirations were relevant to these depressive symptoms? Overall, this study showed that factors implicated by collision of values, perceived discrepancies between aspiration and attainment, and negative appraisal of self could induce depressive mood, feelings, and behaviors, an important finding revealing that this underserved population can benefit from better public health services. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research brings together insights from the fields of sociology and social work, providing an integrated study of marriage as a cultural and structural institution. The goals of the study are twofold: first, to empirically assess the predictive power of cultural versus structural elements of marital aspirations and attitudes among “fragile families”; second, to determine if the aforementioned relationship and outcomes differ by immigrant status. The results offer more support for the role of structure than the function of culture, suggesting that rather than demonizing disadvantaged families for having “defective” cultural values, policy planners and human service providers should recognize the importance of educational attainment and economic productivity in fragile families. Even populations most disposed to hold more “traditional” views of marriage and family life are constrained by the realities of structural disadvantage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study seeks to investigate the importance of life course capital on the educational aspirations of 40 social work undergraduates who were predominantly visible ethnic minority, immigrant descendants or non-traditional students in the mainstream US. Applying the resource perspective in this context, minority students’ academic successes hinge on their ability to acquire valuable resources needed for academic success over their life course (e.g. economic capital such as parental financial investment, scholarship and financial aids; cultural capital such as educational aspirations and values; and social capital such as parents’ involvement and social networks). Overall, minority social work students in this study face a multifaceted array of challenges associated with family financial strain, poor quality of early education, work obligations and economic constraints. Despite the fact that the participants exhibited a remarkable range of educational resilience, the diversities in their journeys to social work were influenced by a number of life course resources and varied systematically by personal experience as well as age cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using data collected from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study investigated the links between intimate partners' relationship dynamics and criminal offending in 'fragile families.' We assessed the mechanisms underlying relationships among parents with young children from the perspective of three dominant theories in the field of criminology (i.e., strain, social control/bonding, and social learning theories), as well as the potential moderating effects of gender. In this study, criminal offending is operationalized as whether the respondents have been formally 'booked or charged with breaking a law' since the last data collection period. Overall, our study lends some support for all three theories, but we found little evidence that the relationships among our substantive predictor variables and formal contact with the criminal justice system differed by gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence inflicted against women by their intimate partners presents an especially critical area of inquiry among battered female immigrants following the striking ethnic diversification after the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This article reviews contemporary literature of intimate partner violence; seeks to illustrate the current state of knowledge; and provides a conceptual framework that summarizes the unique experiences of immigrant women confronting the challenges of couple violence. Five underlying cultural and structural mechanisms influencing immigrant women's susceptibility, re-adjustment, and recovery were identified: (1) acculturation, (2) cultural mechanisms, (3) mental health, (4) structural elements, (5) legal contexts, and (6) social support. A synopsis of practice implications in the context of the literature is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tied together literature from the fields of family sociology, child development, and social work to investigate the impact of child health and developmental challenges on family emotional climate spanning the first 5 years following birth. To measure emotional climate, three family determinants (interparental discord, parenting concordance, and parenting challenges), which served as either the product or process for six empirical models of interest, were examined. Overall, children’s poor health and development could open up more opportunities for parental discord, undermine parental ability to compromise, and increase challenges in parenting. Practice implications aimed at strengthening family ties were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using hierarchical linear modeling, this article investigates the effect of gender, parental capital, and community context on school-age children's educational attainment in Mexico. Data come from the Mexican Migration Project; this study investigates the contribution of various micro- and macro-level determinants. To measure schooling, the amount of education completed by two different age groups of children in Mexico was examined. In sum, male respondents were found to attain fewer years of education than females, contrary to the gender-effect model. But the study lends firm support to the parental capital model which stresses the significance of parental education and household wealth. The community context argument was marginally upheld for younger respondents but exerted a more meaningful impact on older respondents, signaling the need to emphasize age and community ecological factors in assessing educational outcomes in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influx of multicultural and multiethnic immigrants to the United States following the liberalization of immigration law in 1965 has resulted in a high representation of children who reside with immigrant families. As these children are approaching early adulthood, their encounter with various ecological systems is likely to be shaped by their cultural differences and the diversity of family settings. Drawing on the insights of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, this article highlights the critical function that family social ecology plays in how children of immigrants will fare over their adolescent life course. By providing a comprehensive picture of how immigrant family process takes place, this article suggests how understanding the ecology of immigrant families can help strengthen social work service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity to form and develop healthy interpersonal relationships with others is fundamental for human development. In the realm of practice, the theory of social exchange is among the most prominent conceptual frameworks for examining and understanding human behaviors and relationship dynamics. While interpersonal bonds may take several forms across the family life cycle, this article addresses how healthy social exchange can provide a basis for establishing a mutually fulfilling alliance by examining three different types of interpersonal relationships: dating relationships, marital relationships, and parent–child co-residential relationships. Interventions aimed at marriage and family therapists as well as social work practitioners working with couples and families facing relationship troubles are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destinies of the contemporary immigrant generation are challenged by the profound reshaping of the U.S. economy and the increasing diversity of new immigrant communities from the Latin American and Asian regions. Family represents a key link between immigrant children's social adjustment beyond high school and relationships with mainstream society. Placing an emphasis on culture and social structure, this article reviews contemporary literature and provides a framework for knowledge that helps social work practitioners and policy planners explore the distinguishing features of immigrant families that confer an advantage within their children's post-secondary education or labor market participation. Also considered is how culture and social structure overlap and interact to exert a significant influence on the future economic prospects of immigrant children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are good reasons to expect immigrant families' experiences in the host society to differ vastly. What impact might rationales for relocation have on immigrant families' pre-migration and post-migration characteristics in mainstream America? This article reviews existing research by drawing on various migration theories and explores the potential linkage between forces that propelled the move and immigrant families' adaptation patterns that followed. Three non-mutually exclusive principal motives were proposed to explain the substantial differences that exist among immigrants. Also considered are theoretical explanations that would facilitate effective practice and intervention among social work practitioners and policy planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of immigration is especially controversial in the United States as immigrants today have not only increased in number but constitute a more heterogeneous population. Unlike the earlier waves of immigrants, which were predominantly of European origin, the post-1965 migration trend from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean has tremendously altered the demographic characteristics of the U.S. population. In-depth exploration of various contextual factors affecting ethnic identity formation can offer insights that help social work practitioners and policy planners overcome the difficulty in working with immigrant populations and their descendants. This article reviews significant contextual aspects influencing immigrant children's ethnic identity formations and proposes practice recommendations that help facilitate the children's adaptation in the host society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, I examine the impact of interparental discord on children's antisocial behaviors in families facing financial hardship. Structural Equation Modeling analysis of 1222 pairs of parents shows that financial hardship can create turmoil in families' lives by increasing discord between parents. The findings are consistent with the notion that children who experience interparental discord have a higher disposition toward displaying antisocial behaviors. Multiple group analysis also reveals unique differences between mothers and fathers in terms of their conceptualization of strain, discord, and child outcome. While both mothers and fathers may attribute different meanings to financial adversity, their relationships with each other are significantly likely to suffer from household financial insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]