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Mexican American Adolescents’ Cultural Orientation, Externalizing Behavior and Academic Engagement: The Role of Traditional Cultural Values

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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

This study of 598 7th grade students of Mexican origin examined the role of traditional cultural values as a mediator of the effects of immigrant status, Mexican cultural orientation and Anglo cultural orientation on adolescent externalizing behavior and academic engagement. Immigrant status of adolescents and their maternal caregivers uniquely predicted increased Mexican cultural orientation and decreased Anglo cultural orientation, and both Mexican and Anglo cultural orientation related positively to adolescents’ endorsement of traditional cultural values. Endorsement of traditional cultural values related, in turn, to decreased externalizing behaviors and increased academic engagement and these findings were replicated across adolescent and teacher report of these two outcomes. Tests of mediation provided further evidence to support these pathways. Findings support the central importance of traditional cultural values as a protective resource that explains why immigrant youth exhibit fewer externalizing problems and increased academic engagement when compared to their second and third generation peers.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the families who participated in this project and to the following districts and schools who collaborated: Cartwright School District, Phoenix Elementary District #1, Marc T. Atkinson Middle School, Desert Sands Middle School, Frank Borman Middle School, Estrella Middle School, and Phoenix Preparatory Academy. We thank Michael Martinez, John Woollums, William Bean, Consuelo Nava, Ema Jauregui, Heather Davis, Pat Heichel, David Dowdle, Ken Hunter, Jim Paczosa, Raul Pina, Brenda Avalos, Susan Jurkunas, Dan Perez, Phoenix Union High School District, Trevor Browne High School, and Maryvale High School for their assistance in implementing the intervention. We thank Anne Mauricio, Francesca Dillman Carpentier, Lorey Wheeler, Sharlene Wolchik, Irwin Sandler, Mark Roosa, Toni Genalo, Darya Bonds, Jake Heller, Diana Naranjo, Soyoung Lee, Krystel Martinez, Brandi Young, and Jeanette Avila for their assistance in conducting this investigation. This research was supported by NIMH grant R01-MH64707 to fund a randomized, controlled trial of a preventive intervention for Mexican American adolescents, NIMH grant 5-P30-MH39246-13 to fund a Preventive Intervention Research Center at Arizona State University, and the Cowden endowment to the School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, PO Box 871104, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1104, USA

    Nancy A. Gonzales, Miguelina Germán, Preethy George, Fairlee C. Fabrett & Roger Millsap

  2. Department of Human Ecology, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, A2700, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Su Yeong Kim

  3. School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, PO Box 873701, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3701, USA

    Larry E. Dumka

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  1. Nancy A. Gonzales
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Correspondence to Nancy A. Gonzales.

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Gonzales, N.A., Germán, M., Kim, S.Y. et al. Mexican American Adolescents’ Cultural Orientation, Externalizing Behavior and Academic Engagement: The Role of Traditional Cultural Values. Am J Community Psychol 41, 151–164 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9152-x

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