Filial Responsibility and Substance Use Among Latinx Adolescents: Moderation by Cultural Values and Family Conflict

• In Event: Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: PS 11 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Among Latinx children, engagement in filial responsibility (FR), tasks that involve a sense of duty to the family and the parent–child relationship (Ponivosky Bergelson et al., 2015), is considered a culturally normative task (Jurkovic et al., 2004; Kuperminc et al., 2013). Research examining associations between FR and adolescent outcomes is mixed and highlights the importance of differentiating between types of FR (see Macfie, Brumariu & Lyons-Ruth, 2015, for a review). Also, inclusion of risk and protective factors are noteworthy constructs to include when examining these relations. In particular, the influence of family and culturally-driven factors is of interest as some researchers have noted their importance (Suárez-Orozco et al., 2018). For example, recent research has emphasized consideration of culturally-related family conflict as a salient and more intense form of conflict experienced by immigrant-origin families than general family conflict (Lui, 2015). Furthermore, extensive research points to the protective impact of the cultural value of familism (Stein et al., 2014). The current study examined the relations among FR and substance use and the moderating impact of family conflict (general family conflict [GFC] and acculturation gap conflict [AGC]) and familism. It is anticipated that perceived unfairness will emerge as the strongest predictor of substance. In addition, while it is anticipated that both forms of conflict will bolster these relations, it is expected that AGC will be a stronger moderator. Finally, familism will demonstrate a protective effect in the relationship between FR and substance use.
Four hundred and thirteen Latinx youth ( Mage = 14.19, SDage = .41, 59% female) were recruited from central California. Participants completed self-reported surveys about filial responsibility (Kuperminc et al., 2013), cultural values (Knight et al., 2010), family conflict (Robin & Foster, 1989), acculturation gap conflict (Basáñez et. al., 2013), and substance use (i.e. marijuana use, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and vaping; CDC, 2015).
First, results via regression analyses, indicated that FR was not significantly associated with substance use (see Table 1; Models 1, 5, and 9). Next, moderation analyses rendered four significant interactions (see Models 3, 6, 8, and 10). For marijuana use, results indicated that the Emotional FR X AGC interaction was significant at high AGC (see Figure 1, PanelA). For tobacco and alcohol use, the Instrumental FR X Familism and Unfairness X GFC interactions were significant at low levels of the moderators (See Figure 1, Panels B and C). Finally, for vaping, the Unfairness X GFC interaction was significant at low GFC (See Figure 1, Panel D).
Overall, results did not support the main effects hypotheses and provided partial support for the moderation expectations. The findings elucidate the nuanced association between FR and substance as it pertains to family conflict. Specifically, it highlights the differential impact that these forms of conflict generate. Furthermore, the results also emphasize the protective effect of familism, albeit a limited effect. Finally, results will serve to inform programs focused on substance use reduction by focusing on mitigating the impact of family conflict and bolstering cultural values.

Authors

• Yovani Muñoz, California State University - Fresno
  Presenting Author

• Fabiola Herrera, Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rosa I Toro, California State University, Fresno
  Non-Presenting Author