Predicting Longitudinal Changes in Familism in an Emerging Immigrant Context

Familism is a core Latinx value that emphasizes deference to family and prioritizing family over the self, and is typically examined as a predictor of positive psychosocial outcomes in Latinx youth and their families (Stein et al., 2014). Few studies have examined predictors of familism in Latinx youth, with the majority of work focusing on how familism contributes to adjustment, psychopathology, and well-being (Hernández & Bámaca, 2016). The few studies that have explored this association have found that ethnic identity (e.g., affect toward one’s ethnic group, perceptions of others’ views of their group) and family processes are two factors that play a significant role in predicting familism values (Carlo, White, Streit, Knight, & Zeiders, 2017; Stein, Rivas-Drake, & Camacho, 2016). This relation has been established through cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies; however, research that has examined longitudinal associations has typically been conducted in traditional immigrant destinations (i.e., California, Kiang & Fuligni, 2009; Arizona, Knight et al., 2014). Additionally, no studies to our knowledge have examined how familism develops or changes across time in relation to core ethnic identity processes (i.e., public and private regard) and familial experiences (i.e., familial support). How cultural and familial processes intersect with familism values may differ in emerging immigrant communities, as these communities lack the cultural resources present in established destinations (Stamps & Bohon, 2010). This study extends past research by testing the longitudinal associations between familism values, and ethnic identity and family processes within an emerging immigrant context.