Abstract
Previous studies have linked parent-child cultural adaptation mismatches with adolescents’ maladjustment without addressing how intergenerational mis/matches are related to positive aspects of adolescent development and parental outcomes. Using data from 604 Mexican-origin families (adolescent sample:54%female, Mage = 12.41, range = 11 to 15), response surface analysis was conducted to investigate how mother-child mis/matches in cultural adaptation (acculturation, enculturation, English and Spanish proficiency) are associated with adolescents’ and mothers’ resilience and life meaning. Adolescents and mothers reported greater resilience and meaning when they matched at higher, versus lower, levels of acculturation, enculturation and English proficiency; adolescents reported more resilience when they were more acculturated than mothers. The findings provide a strengths-based understanding of parent-child cultural adaptation mis/matches and elucidate how Mexican-origin families thrive in the cultural adaptation process.
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Author contributions
Y.J.J. conceptualized the study, participated in conducting statistical analyses, and drafted the manuscript. S.L. participated in conceptualized the study, drafted the manuscript, interpretation of the results and provided a critical review of the manuscript. S.J.X. participated in the interpretation of the results and provided a critical review of the manuscript. C.S.T. participated in conducting statistical analysis, the interpretation of the results and provided a critical review of the manuscript. K.S.Y. created the design of the larger project and was responsible for data collection and curation, project management, and supervision of the current research. She also participated in the conceptualization of the current study and interpretation of the results, and provided critical reviews of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the review of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
This research was supported through awards to Su Yeong Kim from (1) National Science Foundation, Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, 1651128 and 0956123, (2) National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities 1R21MD012706-01A1 and 3R21MD-012706-02S1, (3) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 5R03HD060045-02, (4) Russell Sage Foundation, 2699, (5) Spencer Foundation, 10023427, (6) Hogg Foundation for Mental Health JRG-102, (7) Office of the Vice President for Research and Creative Grant and Special Research Grant from the University of Texas at Austin, (8) College of Natural Sciences Catalyst Grant from the University of Texas at Austin, and (9) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 2P2CHD042849-19 grant awarded to the Population Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin. No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.
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Appendix
Appendix
Mother/Adolescent Self-Report of Life Meaning
How much do you agree with the following statements?
1 | Strongly disagree |
2 | Disagree |
3 | Neutral/Depends |
4 | Agree |
5 | Strongly agree |
1. I understand my life’s meaning
2. My life has a clear sense of purpose
3. I have a good sense of what makes my life meaningful
Mother/Adolescent Self-Report of Resilience
How much do you agree with the following statements?
1 | Strongly disagree |
2 | Disagree |
3 | Neutral/Depends |
4 | Agree |
5 | Strongly agree |
1. I can deal with whatever comes
2. I tend to recover easily after an illness or hardship
3. I am not easily discouraged by failure
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Yan, J., Sim, L., Song, J. et al. Reconsidering the “Acculturation Gap”: Mother-Adolescent Cultural Adaptation Mis/Matches and Positive Psychosocial Outcomes among Mexican-Origin Families. J Youth Adolescence 51, 1409–1425 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01606-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01606-4