3-010 - A Critical Examination of Language Brokering: Dimensions, Mechanisms of Influence, and Children's Socioemotional Well-Being

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Language brokering (LB) refers to when children interpret and mediate between their heritage language/culture and English/U.S. culture for their English-limited parents (Morales & Hanson, 2005). Research notes that LB occurs at all facets of development (Wiesskirch, 2017), can have a differential impact on children depending on the dimension of LB, and characterized as displaying a benefit-detriment dynamic. Thus, the goal of this symposium is to provide a critical examination of the nuanced associations involving LB throughout development. First, we examine relations involving mother and child negative brokering experiences on children’s psychological adjustment via parent child-alienation among a sample of Latino pre-adolescents. Second, we examine associations between LB emotions and children’s socioemotional well-being among Latino adolescents and the role of family conflict and filial responsibilities. Third, LB infrequency and feelings of burden and their associations to socioemotional well-being are examined among a sample of Latino young adults. Finally, in order to put the current state of the literature into perspective, a meta-analysis discusses whether three dimensions of language brokering (frequency, positive and negative feelings) promote or inhibit youth’s well-being across five different domains: family dynamics, adaptive cultural processes, and socioemotional, behavioral, and academic well-being. Overall, this symposium will have empirical and programmatic implications. Empirically, it will provide a clearer picture of the manner in which LB is linked to adaptive and maladaptive youth outcomes. Finally, findings suggest that interventions aiming at improving brokers’ psychological adjustment should promote positive language brokering experiences in parties involved in the brokering process.

Sub Unit

• Family Context & Processes

Chair

• Rosa Irene Toro, California State University, Fresno

Discussant

• JoAnn Farver, University of Southern California

Individual Presentations

• Mothers’ and Children’s Language Brokering Experiences and Children’s Psychological Adjustment - Presenting Author: Jiaxiu Song, The University of Texas at Austin; Non-Presenting Author: Su Yeong Kim, University of Texas at Austin

• Latino Children’s Reports of Language Brokering Emotions and Socioemotional Well-Being - Presenting Author: Rosa Irene Toro, California State University, Fresno

• The Role of Attachment in Language Brokering and Well-being among College Students - Presenting Author: Rob Weisskirch, California State University, Monterey Bay; Non-Presenting Author: Angie Guan, California State University, Northridge; Non-Presenting Author: Vanja Lazarevic, San Diego State University

• Language Brokering and Linguistic Minority Youth’s Well-being: A Meta-Analytic Review - Presenting Author: Yishan Shen, Texas State University; Non-Presenting Author: Eunjin Seo, Texas State University; Non-Presenting Author: Alison Jiles, Texas State University