AbstractsSociology

Understanding the Effect of Acculturation and NeighborhoodDisorder on Adolescents' Positive Development and DelinquentBehavior

by Nicolle A Estevez




Institution: Kent State University
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: Sociology; Delinquency; Positive Youth Development; Hispanic Acculturation; Collective Efficacy; Neighborhoods
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2064890
Full text PDF: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1470011950


Abstract

Drawing from the theoretical framework of the social disorganization, the present study explored how primary caregivers’ level of acculturation affected Hispanic adolescents’ positive development, conceptualized through the five Cs and their delinquent behavior, as well how neighborhood conditions and collective efficacy also affect adolescents’ positive development and delinquency. Much of the literature regarding adolescent acculturation has focused on adolescents’ mental health, delinquency, or academic. To date, there are no studies that examine how acculturation impacts adolescents’ positive youth development, specifically their Five C’s. My study attempted to fill the gap in this literature. Using secondary survey data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) I explored whether Hispanic acculturated parents, neighborhood disorder, and collective efficacy impacted adolescents’ positive development, as conceptualized through the five Cs and delinquency. Due to the clustered nature of the PHDCN data, I closely followed the methodology used by Sampson and colleagues (2005) and performed a multilevel logistic regression model that estimated the effect of acculturation. My analysis found similar results to previous research (Lopez and O’Donnell-Brummett 2003; Marsiglia, Kulis, and Hecht 2001; Wong 1999; Szapocznik and Kurtines 1993; Touliatos and Lindholm 1980) acculturation did have an effect on adolescents’ delinquency. In general, adolescents with less acculturated parents were significantly less likely to be delinquent. However, regarding adolescents’ positive youth development, my study found that acculturation did not have an impact on their positive development. Advisors/Committee Members: Adams, Richard (Committee Chair).