• 404-01 - “Turning Inward:” Acculturative Stress, Immigration and Adaptation of Mexican Immigrant Families in the Midwest
  Presented by: Robert Reyes, Ruben Viramontez-Anguiano
• 404-02 - A Person-centered Approach to Socialization Among Mexican-American Families
  Presented by: Rebecca White, Katharine Zeiders, Nancy Gonzales, Jenn Tein, Mark Roosa, George Knight
• 404-03 - Depression of Remaining Family Members of Mexicans Migrating to the U.S.
  Presented by: Juyoung Jang, Veronica Deenanath, Catherine Solheim

Abstracts

“Turning Inward:” Acculturative Stress, Immigration and Adaptation of Mexican Immigrant Families in the Midwest

Presented by: Robert Reyes, Ruben Viramontez-Anguiano

This paper examines the impact that current social, economic and political factors have had in the stress and adaptation experience of Latino families in the Midwest. In particular how recent legislative measures are affecting the emotional-psychological health of these families. Using Berry’s (1997) typology of acculturative stress and adaptation this paper examines the cultural transition of Mexican immigrant families. An initial analysis of the data revealed a strong identification with “separation” and “marginalization” as patterns of behavior in responding to cultural dislocation and stress.

A Person-centered Approach to Socialization Among Mexican-American Families

Presented by: Rebecca White, Katharine Zeiders, Nancy Gonzales, Jenn Tein, Mark Roosa, George Knight

Using a person-centered approach, we identified parent socialization strategies among Mexican origin parents of young adolescents. We then examined whether socialization strategies predicted changes over time among indicators of adolescent health, including internalizing and externalzing. Preliminary analyses suggest prospective differences in adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms across mothers' socialization strategies, but not fathers. The discussion will focus on the value of the person-centered approach for understanding parenting and child outcomes among racial/ethnic minority families.

Depression of Remaining Family Members of Mexicans Migrating to the U.S.

Presented by: Juyoung Jang, Veronica Deenanath, Catherine Solheim

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of having family members in the U.S. on depression of remaining family members within community context. Using the first wave of Mexican Family Life Survey (MXFLS) data, we performed two multilevel analyses, one for married persons and the other for adolescents. The effect of having family members in the U.S. was significant for married persons but it was not significant for adolescents taking into account community context. Rather, community migration factor explained adolescent depression. There are implications for future study.