Exploring Differences in Family Involvement and Depressive Symptoms across Latino Adolescent Groups

Abstract

This study investigated the association between family involvement and depressive symptoms among a sample of 187 Dominican, Mexican, and Central American adolescents from the Longitudinal Immigrant Student Adaptation Study. The study used the transactional stress model as its theoretical foundation. Findings from a multiple regression model suggest that low levels of family involvement were significantly related to higher levels of depressive symptoms for Dominican youths but not for Mexican or Central American youths. Latina adolescents were significantly more likely to have higher rates of depressive symptoms than their male counterparts. Research and practice implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Family involvement
• depression
• Latino adolescents

Notes

^aThese items were calculated using the mean of the scale multiplied by the number of items on the scale.

^bAlthough the vast majority of the sample consisted of newcomer youths and parents not in the country longer than 10 years, it is possible some stepparents may have been included.

*p < .05

**p < .01

***p < .001.