Premium
Extended Family Ties Among Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Whites: Superintegration or Disintegration? *
Author(s) -
Sarkisian Natalia,
Gerena Mariana,
Gerstel Naomi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00408.x
Subject(s) - ethnic group , family ties , gerontology , psychology , demography , medicine , sociology , history , genealogy , anthropology
Addressing recent theoretical debates, this study examined the differences in extended family integration among Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Whites, as well as the importance of culture and structure in explaining these differences. Our findings showed Whites and Latinos/as have distinctive patterns of extended family integration: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans exhibited higher rates of coresidence and proximate living than Whites; Whites had greater involvement in financial support than Mexicans or Puerto Ricans, but Mexicans were more involved in instrumental help. Structural factors such as income, education, and nuclear family composition explained much of these ethnic differences. The study’s findings suggest that policy should emphasize the unmet needs in Latino/a communities and the role of extended families.