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Cited by 79Racial and Ethnic Identity ResearchIdentity, Memory, and TherapyPsychosocial Factors Impacting Youth

Personal and cultural identity development in recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents: Links with psychosocial functioning.

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Meca, Alan, Sabet, Raha F., Farrelly, Colleen M., Benitez, Cynthia G., Schwartz, Seth J., Gonzales-Backen, Melinda, Lorenzo-Blanco, Elma I., Unger, Jennifer B. +8 more·2017·Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology
DOI 10.1037/cdp0000129PMC PMC5491363
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined directionality between personal (i.e., coherence and confusion) and cultural identity (i.e., ethnic and U.S.) as well as their additive effects on psychosocial functioning in a sample of recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents. METHOD: The sample consisted of 302 recent (<5 years) immigrant Hispanic adolescents (53% boys; Mage = 14.51 years at baseline; SD = .88 years) from Miami and Los Angeles who participated in a longitudinal study. RESULTS: Results indicated a bidirectional relationship between personal identity coherence and both ethnic and U.S. identity. Ethnic and U.S. affirmation/commitment (A/C) positively and indirectly predicted optimism and negatively predicted rule breaking and aggression through coherence. However, confusion predicted lower self-esteem and optimism and higher depressive symptoms, rule breaking, unprotected sex, and cigarette use. Results further indicated significant site differences. In Los Angeles (but not Miami), ethnic A/C also negatively predicted confusion. CONCLUSION: Given the direct effects of coherence and confusion on nearly every outcome, it may be beneficial for interventions to target personal identity. However, in contexts such as Los Angeles, which has at least some ambivalence toward recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents, it may be more beneficial for interventions to also target cultural identity to reduce confusion and thus promote positive development. (PsycINFO Database Record

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Authors
Meca, A., Sabet, R. F., Farrelly, C. M., Benitez, C. G., Schwartz, S. J., Gonzales-Backen, M., Lorenzo-Blanco, E. I., Unger, J. B., Zamboanga, B. L., Baezconde-Garbanati, L., Picariello, S., Des Rosiers, S. E., Soto, D. W., Pattarroyo, M., Villamar, J. A., & Lizzi, K. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Miami (US)
  • Florida International University (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
  • Smith College (US)
  • University of Naples Federico II (IT)
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
ORCID
Venue
Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2017-07
Volume
23
Issue
3
Pages
348-361
ISSN
  • 1077-341X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-0106
  • 1099-9809
DOI
10.1037/cdp0000129
PMC
PMC5491363
OpenAlex
W2587772731
Cited by
79
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1
FWCI
17.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R03DA025694)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA021888-02S2)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Psychosocial Factors Impacting Youth
Keywords
identity construction, identity confusion, cultural identity, ethnic identity, Latino youth, new immigrants, psychosocial functioning, optimism, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, rule violations, aggression, unprotected sex, cigarette smoking, site differences, Miami, Los Angeles
MeSH terms
Acculturation, Adolescent, Central America, Colombia, Culture, Female, Florida, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Identification, Psychological, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mexico, Social Identification, West Indies, Los Angeles, Emigrants and Immigrants

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