Parallel Ethnic Identity Development of Mexican-Origin Adolescents and Mothers Under the Influence of Neighborhood Latinx Concentration and Ethnic-Racial Diversity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Co-ethnic or ethnically-racially diverse neighborhoods can serve as safe and supportive places for U.S. immigrant families to explore and develop clarity about their ethnic identity. Although parents undergo concurrent changes in the adaptation process with their children, existing research has predominantly focused on adolescents, with fewer examination on adult parents’ continued ethnic identity development; additionally, researchers also overlook the impact of neighborhood context on ethnic identity in parents. To fill this gap, this registered study used a three-wave longitudinal dataset of 595 Mexican-origin adolescents and their mothers in central Texas. Latent growth models were used to estimate how ethnic identity (i.e. exploration, centrality, and resolution) changed across time in mother – adolescent dyads. Our findings indicated some level of connectedness in the development of family members’ ethnic identities, particularly in terms of exploration. We also found that mothers’ ethnic identity development was shaped by their neighborhood contexts, with those residing in more diverse neighborhoods being less likely to explore their ethnic identities. Results inform prevention and intervention efforts to promote family collaboration and help immigrant family members develop a positive sense of ethnic identity in the adaptation process.