The purpose of the present study was to (a) examine how acculturation and social support inform Latinos' parenting behaviors, controlling for gender and education; (b) describe parenting styles among Latino immigrants while accounting...
moreThe purpose of the present study was to (a) examine how acculturation and social support inform Latinos' parenting behaviors, controlling for gender and education; (b) describe parenting styles among Latino immigrants while accounting for cultural elements; and (c) test how these parenting styles are associated with family conflict. A 3 step latent profile analysis with the sample (N = 489) revealed best fit with a 4 profile model (n = 410) of parenting: family parenting (n = 268, 65%), child-centered parenting (n = 68, 17%), moderate parenting (n = 60, 15%), and disciplinarian parenting (n = 14, 3%). Parents' gender, acculturation, and social support significantly predicted profile membership. Disciplinarian and moderate parenting were associated with more family conflict. Recommendations include integrating culturally based parenting practices as a critical element to family interventions to minimize conflict and promote positive youth development.
Objectives: This article reports the effects of a culturally grounded parenting intervention to strengthen positive parenting practices. Method: The intervention was designed and tested with primarily Mexican origin parents in a large...
moreObjectives: This article reports the effects of a culturally grounded parenting intervention to strengthen positive parenting practices. Method: The intervention was designed and tested with primarily Mexican origin parents in a large urban setting of the southwestern United States using an ecodevelopmental approach. Parents ( N = 393) were randomly assigned three treatment conditions: (1) a parenting and youth intervention, (2) a youth only intervention, or (3) a control group. A measurement model for positive parenting was first evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, followed by structural equation modeling to estimate the effects of the intervention on positive parenting (i.e., baseline to follow-up). Results: As hypothesized, parents in the intervention group reported higher rates of positive parenting compared to parents in youth-only condition. Conclusion: The results are promising and add to growing evidence that interventions tailored to the cultural characteristics a...
Background and Purpose: Parenting programs can have positive effects on the acquisition of parenting skills and are some of the most effective ways of impacting youth substance use and other risk behaviors. Guided by the Ecodevelopmental...
moreBackground and Purpose: Parenting programs can have positive effects on the acquisition of parenting skills and are some of the most effective ways of impacting youth substance use and other risk behaviors. Guided by the Ecodevelopmental approach, Familias: Preparando la Nueva Generación (Families: Preparing the New Generation [FPNG]), the parent program designed to supplement the SAMHSA model program, keepin’ it REAL (kiR), was developed using CBPR in close partnership with Mexican origin parents in a large urban setting of the Southwest US. The main hypothesis asserts that by participating in a culturally specific parenting intervention with other culturally similar parents, parents will strengthen their positive parenting practices and enhance open family communication. While keepin’ it REAL was delivered to 7th grade youth in classrooms by teachers, FPNG was delivered over an eight-week period (one lesson per week) at the school their youth attended by trained bilingual facilita...
A recidivism risk instrument was developed and validated on a sample of juvenile offenders (N = 1,987) based on the need to classify juveniles by their likelihood of re-offense. Female recidivism (R(2) = 27%) was predicted by younger age...
moreA recidivism risk instrument was developed and validated on a sample of juvenile offenders (N = 1,987) based on the need to classify juveniles by their likelihood of re-offense. Female recidivism (R(2) = 27%) was predicted by younger age at first expulsion from school, history of parent incarceration, gang involvement, felony class offense, and firearm use. Male recidivism (R(2) = 12%) was predicted by younger age at first adjudication, referrals, school suspensions, history of maternal incarceration, firearm use, running away, gang involvement, and destroying property/stealing. Cross-validation analyses indicated that high-risk offenders recidivated at more than five times the rate of low-risk offenders.
Background and Purpose. Many assume that adolescents with disabilities experience an asexual identity (Murphy & Elias, 2006); to the contrary, studies have found that they engage in sexual activity at similar levels to their peers (Gordon...
moreBackground and Purpose. Many assume that adolescents with disabilities experience an asexual identity (Murphy & Elias, 2006); to the contrary, studies have found that they engage in sexual activity at similar levels to their peers (Gordon et al., 2004). Moreover, youth with learning disabilities may be at greater risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and experiencing teen pregnancy (Mandell et al., 2008). Sex education is often not offered to adolescents with disabilities in special education, however, and may not be appropriately designed for adolescents with mild disabilities within regular curricula (Murphy & Elias). Social workers serve a crucial role in assisting adolescents with disabilities to understand sexual risk, and to support them in developing healthy sexual relationships. The present study sought to understand adolescents with disabilities’ sexual experiences from the perspectives of school social workers, and to explore social workers’ needs in w...
To assess the impact of a parenting intervention, Familias: Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG), intended to support children, on parents heavy drinking. We hypothesized that parent participants of FPNG would reduce their heavy drinking...
moreTo assess the impact of a parenting intervention, Familias: Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG), intended to support children, on parents heavy drinking. We hypothesized that parent participants of FPNG would reduce their heavy drinking at 1-year follow-up. Parents (N = 281) of middle school children from a large, low-income metropolitan area in the Southwest United States participated in a randomized control trial over 2 years. A logistic regression analysis using the maximum likelihood test determined that at Wave 3, parents receiving FPNG reduced heavy drinking behaviors compared to parents in the youth-only condition (odds ratio = .86, p < .05). Participating in the parenting program can effectively curb heavy drinking behaviors in parents-an important mechanism through which one may expect changes in youth risk behavior. The practice, policy, and research implications of these unintended findings are promising to the overall effectiveness of a parenting intervention for Mexican-heritage families.
Although methamphetamine use has been declining, it continues to be problematic among parents in the child welfare system. We examined the assertion that parental methamphetamine use is more detrimental for children than abuse of other...
moreAlthough methamphetamine use has been declining, it continues to be problematic among parents in the child welfare system. We examined the assertion that parental methamphetamine use is more detrimental for children than abuse of other substances. Using administrative data (N = 2,465) from a treatment program, we compared parents reporting abuse of methamphetamine (48%) with parents reporting alcohol only (11%) or abuse of other illegal drugs (41%) on a number of variables. Methamphetamine users were more likely to be female, White, have less education, be unemployed, and not be in a committed relationship, and their children were significantly more likely to be placed.
A qualitative approach was used to explore the meaning of being in love for Mexican American and White adolescents. Adolescents' written descriptions were coded using inductive content...
moreA qualitative approach was used to explore the meaning of being in love for Mexican American and White adolescents. Adolescents' written descriptions were coded using inductive content analysis. Five broader love themes encompassing five additional subthemes emerged: commitment (sacrifice and time); intimacy (friendship, trust, and caring); reciprocity; unconditional acceptance; and unsure/unknown. Mexican American adolescents mentioned intimacy components, White adolescent boys
Placement stability is important for children to find permanent families, and for social, emotional and educational development of children. This study used the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW, long term foster...
morePlacement stability is important for children to find permanent families, and for social, emotional and educational development of children. This study used the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW, long term foster care general sample) data set to examine foster child and caregiver characteristics, and the caregiver–child relationship as a predictor of placement stability. Logistic regression was performed to predict the odds of achieving placement stability. Due to differences across development, the sample was divided into two groups: early childhood and middle childhood. As expected, in the early childhood group more caregiver than child characteristics affected placement stability. In the middle childhood group it was expected that more child than caregiver characteristics would predict placement stability, however, only child problem behaviors and caregiver experience and age affected placement stability. It was noteworthy that marital status, caregiver education, and income did not. Implications for social work research and practice are discussed.
