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Family Influences on Mexican American Adolescents’ Romantic Relationships: Moderation by Gender and Culture
Author(s) -
Tyrell Fanita A.,
Wheeler Lorey A.,
Gonzales Nancy A.,
Dumka Larry,
Millsap Roger
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/jora.12177
Subject(s) - psychology , romance , moderation , developmental psychology , context (archaeology) , path analysis (statistics) , adolescent development , social psychology , paleontology , statistics , mathematics , psychoanalysis , biology
This study examined prospective associations between the family context and adolescents’ romantic relationships as moderated by adolescents’ gender and culture among Mexican American families ( N = 189). Adolescents at Time 1 (early adolescence) were on average 12.29 years of age ( SD = 0.50) and 54% female. Mothers and fathers reported on family structure and dynamics during early adolescence, and youth reported on their romantic relationship involvement and quality during middle and late adolescence. Results from path analyses indicated that family structure and dynamics (supportive parenting, consistent discipline, and parent–adolescent and interparental conflict) were associated with adolescents’ romantic involvement and quality, and with differences by adolescents’ gender and culture. Findings highlight Mexican American family contexts that contribute uniquely to adolescents’ romantic relationships.