Gabriel P. Kuperminc

This study examined the compensatory and risk-protective roles of informal mentoring in the longitudinal associations between discrimination and behavioral health problems among Latino/a adolescents and emerging adults. The study addressed the limited research on mentoring among Latino/a youth, particularly with regard to behavioral health, and considered both the presence of and relationship quality with mentors as well as gender differences (girls vs. boys). Latent growth curve analysis was used to investigate trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems across 11 observations spanning 7 years. Mentor presence assessed at Wave 9 when youth (N = 544) were approximately 15–18 years old had an association with internalizing problems consistent with the compensatory model, in which a resilience factor offsets the harmful effects of a risk factor, for girls. Among girls with a mentor, relationship quality buffered associations between discrimination and internalizing problems, consistent with the risk protective model. Among boys who reported having a mentor, relationship quality had an association with internalizing problems consistent with the compensatory model. For both girls and boys with mentors, relationship quality buffered associations between discrimination and externalizing problems, consistent with the risk protective model. Whereas discrimination consistently shows harmful effects on Latino/a adolescents’ emotional and behavioral adjustment, a resilience perspective underscores the reality that, with adequate support, most youth are able to overcome those risks. The current study fills gaps in the literature by examining how informal mentoring can foster resilience to such harmful effects, and highlights directions for future research and practice aimed at enhancing the well-being of this large and fast-growing population.

Immigrant optimism has been identified as a cultural protective factor that could be targeted in prevention efforts that support immigrant well‐being. However, to date, immigrant optimism has not been consistently operationalized. We report on an iterative and collaborative approach to develop and validate a measure of immigrant optimism. Methods: Content validity was established using feedback from immigrant‐origin young adults and from experts in the field. Then, using survey data from 241 immigrant‐origin young adults, we examined reliability, validity, and invariance of our measure among first‐ and second‐generation immigrants. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a single immigrant optimism factor explains significant variation in each of our indicators. Our measure was further invariant across first‐ and second‐generation immigrant youth and demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusions: Findings support the use of our measure with immigrant‐origin young adults. We offer considerations for future research and highlight implications for prevention efforts.

Civic action describes participation in political and prosocial activities aimed at benefiting one's communities. A growing literature rooted in critical consciousness (CC) theory suggests that engaging in critical action, which challenges societal inequities, is important for the positive development of youth of color. Although valuable, existing literatures have yet to consider how psychological processes related to the immigrant experience, such as immigrant optimism (IO), may differentially influence the civic participation of immigrant youth of color. IO is a phenomenon in which immigrant groups hold higher aspirations and more positive views of the host society than their nonimmigrant peers, and this often is associated with positive outcomes. This article reviews and integrates relevant research on the civic development of immigrant youth of color, considering both how IO may be a particularly relevant process in shaping immigrant youths' CC development and how civic action may take different forms among these youth. We define concepts, integrate previously siloed literatures, and make recommendations for future research. We propose expanding existing frameworks to consider IO and forms of action, along with their intended outcome. Incorporating IO into studies of CC or civic development can clarify important differences and enhance our understanding of how best to support immigrant youth. Similarly, examining forms of action and their intended outcome may be advantageous in facilitating young immigrants' development as active and engaged members of society. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

This study examined family cohesion and conflict as moderators of associations between discrimination stress and adaptation stress and psychological distress among Latinx youth. Participants included 199 Latinx adolescents (Mage = 13.68). Seventy nine percent were immigrants and 73% had family origins in Mexico. Discrimination stress and adaptation stress had differential associations with psychological distress and with indices of family functioning. Hierarchical regression analysis found significant interactions of family cohesion with both adaptation and discrimination stress. High levels of family cohesion protected against negative effects of discrimination stress. Although high levels of family cohesion were associated with less distress overall, family cohesion appeared to potentiate negative effects of adaptation stress. Results suggest a complex relation of family cohesion with Latinx youths’ emotional well-being, pointing to the need for research examining the role of extra-familial support resources for helping those youth overcome acculturative stress.

Group mentoring programs foster supportive relationships and constructive feedback between mentors and peers. Given the power of peer influence to promote adaptive or harmful outcomes, it is important to evaluate peer influence in group mentoring. This study examined whether a history of negative behavior among peers in mentoring groups exacerbated individual participants' behavior problems. Using a sample of 239 ninth grade participants in a group mentoring program, multilevel regression assessed group‐level influence on suspensions and truancy using school administrative data records. The association between exposure to peers with a history of problem behaviors and outcomes did not reach statistical significance for either outcome. The results suggest that grouping youth with a history of poor attendance and suspensions did not inherently increase the risk for either outcome. Further evaluation of potential peer contagion effects and publication of nonsignificant results will help build literature to determine the likelihood of harmful outcomes for group mentoring.

Researchers have documented positive associations among youth program quality and academic outcomes, primarily based on cross-sectional data. This study examined longitudinal associations among youth-reported program experiences and academic expectations, self-reported grades, and perceived value of school using data from the national evaluation of Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). The sample included 101,050 Club attendees at 2,741 BGCA sites throughout the United States from 2015-2018. Latent Growth Curve Modeling was used to examine change in youth-reported program experiences as well as the longitudinal associations among perceived program experiences and academic outcomes over time. Baseline perceptions of program experiences were associated prospectively with increased perceived value of school. In addition, gains in youth-reported program experiences predicted gains in each of the academic outcomes. These findings suggest that youth programs can promote positive academic trajectories when youth perceive the programs as continuing to meet their needs over time.

The current study examines residency status differences in US Latino/a parents’ perceptions of how recent immigration actions and news have shaped their lives. Focus group data were collected during the fall of 2017 from 50 Central American parents of adolescents. Focus groups were homogenous with respect to one of four residency statuses: undocumented, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), permanent resident, and citizen. Three themes characterized parents’ perceptions: (a) worry and concern, (b) behavior change, and (c) daily life adversities. Within each theme, parents’ experiences included those that were universal across all residency status groups as well as those specific to residency status. Regardless of residency status, parents felt that President Trump’s rhetoric had led to heightened levels of fear among Latino/as, described reducing travel or plans to travel, and reported increases in discrimination against Latino/as. Other experiences of immigration actions and news varied depending upon parents’ residency status.