Differences in acculturation-based family conflict : a latent profile analysis of Latino adolescent and mother cultural value endorsement

"Previous theory suggests that Latino adolescents and their mothers acculturate to the United States culture at different rates, leading to gaps in acculturation that may result in family conflict and youth maladjustment (Szapocznik & Kurtines, 1993). Because acculturation is a multi-faceted construct that includes identity, cultural value endorsement, and engagement in culturally-influenced behaviors (Schwartz, Unger, Zamboanga & Szapocznik, 2010), it is critical to identify the gaps in specific aspects of acculturation that are most detrimental for youth and family outcomes, such as cultural value gaps. The current study identified profiles of adolescent/mother dyads based on mean reports of cultural value endorsement across seven cultural values to determine patterns of cultural value endorsement across dyads and cultural value gaps within dyads. The sample included 174 Latino youth (51.4% female) and their mothers recruited from two middle schools in rural North Carolina. Results indicate that there are four profiles of adolescent-mother cultural value endorsement that result in patterns of cultural value gaps within dyads. Adolescent reports of acculturation-based family conflict differed across profiles such that the profile with adolescents who reported above average endorsement of the traditional gender role value and the U.S. mainstream values as compared to their mothers reported significantly more acculturation-based family conflict than adolescents in other profiles. The implication of this finding is discussed."--Abstract from author supplied metadata.