Keywords

Hispanic, emotional regulation, immigrants, parental communication

Abstract

This two-part study examined the adjustment of Hispanic immigrants. Part one examined the communication that occurs between Hispanic immigrant parents and their adolescents/young adults about life in the United States (U.S.). It also examined how attitudes toward the U.S. and various protective factors influence psychological adjustment. Hispanic immigrants (n = 123) with an average of 11 years living in the United States and their adolescents/young adults between the ages of 14-22 served as participants. For both parents and their adolescents/young adults, favorable attitudes toward the U.S. were associated with improved psychological adjustment. Contrary to prediction, attitudes toward the U.S. did not correlate with quality of life or life satisfaction for either family member. Further, results indicated that among adolescents/young adults, resiliency predicted positive U.S. attitudes, whereas among parents, openness to new experiences predicted favorable attitudes toward the U.S. Finally, parental views of the U.S. correlated positively with their adolescents'/young adults' views of the U.S. In an extension of the study, 37 Hispanic college students who were either immigrants or children of immigrants were randomly assigned to either a control condition or a psychoeducation condition. The psychoeducation condition focused on improving their emotional regulation and views of the United States. No significant differences were found among the groups.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2014

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Negy, Charles

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology; Clinical Psychology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0005436

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0005436

Language

English

Release Date

August 2014

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences; Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

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