Abstract: Acculturation and Aggression in Latino Adolescents: Modeling Longitudinal Trajectories from the Latino Acculturation and Health Project (Research that Promotes Sustainability and (re)Builds Strengths (January 15 - 18, 2009))
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9949 Acculturation and Aggression in Latino Adolescents: Modeling Longitudinal Trajectories from the Latino Acculturation and Health Project

Schedule:
Friday, January 16, 2009: 2:00 PM
Balcony I (New Orleans Marriott)
* noted as presenting author
Paul R. Smokowski, PhD , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Associate Professor and Director, Latino Acculturation and Health Project, Chapel Hill, NC
Roderick A. Rose, MS , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Evaluation Specialist, Chapel Hill, NC
Martica L. Bacallao, PhD , University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Assistant Professor, Greensboro, NC
Purpose

The specific aim of this study was to examine how multiple indicators of adolescent and parent acculturation were related to longitudinal trajectories of Latino adolescent aggression. Considering the mix of extant results showing both high and low acculturation influencing different dimensions of youth violence, we examined how multiple indicators of adolescent and parent acculturation were related to adolescent aggression. We extend the research knowledge from cross-sectional studies that dominate this area of research by exploring longitudinal trajectories of acculturation and aggression.

Methods

Our sample included parents and adolescents living in rural, small town, and metropolitan areas located in two geographically separated states. The Hierarchical Linear Modeling analysis was based on a final sample of 256 adolescents paired with one parent. Sixty-six percent of the adolescents were born outside of the United States and the remaining 34% were U.S.-born. Thirty-eight percent of the families lived in North Carolina and 62% lived in Arizona.

Results

The overall trajectory of Latino adolescent aggression after immigration displayed a statistically significant negative trend that was best characterized by a quadratic curve, decreasing from baseline (Wave 0) to Wave 2 follow-up one year later and slightly increasing at Wave 3 (18 month) follow-up. Higher levels of adolescent U.S. cultural involvement were significantly predictive of lower levels of adolescent aggression (γ = -.04, p < .05). Alternatively, higher parent reported acculturation conflict (γ = .04, p < .01) and adolescent reported parent-adolescent conflict behavior (γ = .44, p < .001) were significantly predictive of higher levels of aggression.

Implications for practice and limitations

It was surprising to find a significant negative trajectory for adolescent aggression; this contradicted our expectations based on prior cross-sectional studies. Latino adolescent aggression appears to decrease naturally without intervention after immigration. At the same time, practitioners and prevention scientists should consider that there is an important opportunity for service provision shortly after immigration when acculturation stress and adolescent aggression peaks. Appropriate prevention services provided during this critical time may well accelerate the attenuation of adolescent aggression and prevent increases in aggression further down the longitudinal trajectory.