Exploring the Role of Family Cohesion in the Effects of Family Type on Immigrant Adolescents' Mental Health and Academic Achievement

• In Event: AERA Research-in-Progress Roundtable Session 1
  In Invited Roundtable: Student Health and Well-Being: Understanding the Links to Identity, Self-Esteem, Engagement, Treatment-Seeking, and Student Outcomes (Table 17)

Abstract

Guided by Family Strength Theory, this quantitative study examines both direct and mediated/moderated relationships on family type (intact, blended, and single-parent), family cohesion, depression, self-esteem, and academic performance, utilizing data from The Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) (N = 3,413). Multiple regression analyses revealed significant direct effects of both family type and family cohesion on mental health and academic outcomes. Causal mediation analyses indicate that family cohesion serves as a crucial mediator, explaining a substantial portion of the relationship between family type and outcomes (depression, self-esteem, and academic performance). These findings underscore the importance of family cohesion as a protective factor and its potential role in mitigating the challenges faced by immigrant adolescents across diverse family structures.

Authors

• Yuyang Shen, University of North Texas

• Jason Chiang, University of North Texas

• Fatmanur Çifci, University of North Texas

• Weini Lin, University of North Texas