A parental involvement and academic socialization model: A cultural approach.

Utilizing ecological theory and multiple world theory, the current study investigated the effects of cultural factors (i.e., Familismo and school climate), parental involvement, and academic socialization on academic achievement of Latina/o secondary school students. This study had 2 primary foci. First, this study sought to address how the cultural value of Familismo and the interaction between home and school cultures play a role in parental involvement and academic achievement. Second, the effect of academic socialization was tested as a distinct factor from parental involvement. Data were collected from 116 Latina/o students living along the U.S./Mexico border. This study tested a path model that explained 30% of the variance in academic achievement, 25% of the variance in academic socialization, and 21% of the variance in parental involvement. Among 8 proposed relationships, 6 were supported while 2 were not. The mediating effects of parental involvement and academic socialization were supported that connect Familismo, school climate, and academic achievement. Implications for Latina/o secondary students who navigate between the different cultural worlds of home and school are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychoecological model of alcohol use in Mexican American adolescents.

In this study, we proposed and tested a structural model based on Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory in order to further understand alcohol use among Hispanic adolescents, who are at greater risk of alcohol use than adolescents of other racial/ethnic groups. Family cohesion, school connectedness, and peer influence were conceptualized as three primary process factors, while psychological distress was used as a mediating factor and Mexican culture orientation as a cultural factor. The sample comprised 444 Mexican American adolescents (aged 16-20) living along the U.S./Mexico border. The proposed model explained 33 % of the variance in alcohol use. Most of the hypothesized relationships in the proposed model were supported: (a) low family cohesion had significant indirect effects mediated through psychological distress, poor school connectedness, and negative peer influence; (b) poor school connectedness had significant indirect effects mediated through psychological distress and negative peer influence; (c) psychological distress had a significant direct effect as well as a significant indirect effect mediated through negative peer influence; and (d) negative peer influence had the strongest direct effect. However, contrary to the hypothesis, Mexican culture orientation was not a protective factor, but rather had a significant positive relationship with negative peer influence. Lastly, it was found that gender, school status, Anglo cultural orientation, and severity of alcohol use did not have any moderating effects. Based on the collective findings, suggestions for primary prevention programs designed to reduce underage drinking among Mexican American youth were given.