Location

Schroeder Complex Room 112

Start Date

26-3-2010 10:30 AM

Document Type

Event

End Date

26-3-2010 11:00 AM

Abstract

Researchers’ focused examination of Latino adolescents’ cultural values and sexual activity has yielded questions regarding the cultural- and gender-specific attitudes and practices of these youth (Deardorff, Tschann, & Flores, 2008). Cultural values include family-related variables such as different aspects of familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring, which have been found to decrease adolescents’ engagement in other negative activities such as aggressive behavior, (Dishion & McMahon, 1998), substance use (Estrada, Rabow, & Watts, 1982), and delinquency (Clark & Shields, 1997). Research investigating these risk behaviors has often implicated Latino adolescents’ level of assimilation to White, mainstream society as a potential risk factor for higher engagement in negative behaviors. This dissertation study, therefore, will examine the relationship between five Latino family variables (i.e., attitudinal familism, behavioral familism, structural familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring), assimilation to White society, and the sexual activity of Latino adolescents. A mixed-methods project has been designed to explore and test the relationships between these variables. Focus groups will be conducted with adolescents on the topics of family, gender, and sexual activity; data will be analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). Latino youth will also complete surveys about these topics; the relationships among these variables will be explored statistically. For the purposes of the Research Exchange, a description of the current stage of the project at that time, a discussion of the anticipated results of the study, and an explanation of the contributions of this study to the Milwaukee and psychological communities will be included.

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Mar 26th, 10:30 AM Mar 26th, 11:00 AM

Latino Family Variables and Sexual Activity in Latino Adolescents

Schroeder Complex Room 112

Researchers’ focused examination of Latino adolescents’ cultural values and sexual activity has yielded questions regarding the cultural- and gender-specific attitudes and practices of these youth (Deardorff, Tschann, & Flores, 2008). Cultural values include family-related variables such as different aspects of familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring, which have been found to decrease adolescents’ engagement in other negative activities such as aggressive behavior, (Dishion & McMahon, 1998), substance use (Estrada, Rabow, & Watts, 1982), and delinquency (Clark & Shields, 1997). Research investigating these risk behaviors has often implicated Latino adolescents’ level of assimilation to White, mainstream society as a potential risk factor for higher engagement in negative behaviors. This dissertation study, therefore, will examine the relationship between five Latino family variables (i.e., attitudinal familism, behavioral familism, structural familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring), assimilation to White society, and the sexual activity of Latino adolescents. A mixed-methods project has been designed to explore and test the relationships between these variables. Focus groups will be conducted with adolescents on the topics of family, gender, and sexual activity; data will be analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). Latino youth will also complete surveys about these topics; the relationships among these variables will be explored statistically. For the purposes of the Research Exchange, a description of the current stage of the project at that time, a discussion of the anticipated results of the study, and an explanation of the contributions of this study to the Milwaukee and psychological communities will be included.