The family context of language brokering among Latino/a young adults

Abstract

Immigrant youth in the U.S. are often enlisted to translate and interpret for their parents who may lack English proficiency. This activity is called language brokering, and it is commonly observed in immigrant families including those who are Latino. Evidence remains mixed as to whether language brokering is harmful or beneficial to family dynamics. However, examination of the factors which moderate the association between language brokering and family conflict may provide insight into these processes. This study investigated the moderating effects of three parent–child relationship variables (i.e., communication, psychological control, and behavioral control) on the relationship between language brokering frequency and family intergenerational conflict in a sample of 228 Latino/a young adults. Participants reported language brokering frequency for mothers and fathers as well as their perceptions of communication, psychological control, and behavioral control displayed by their mothers and fathers and the frequency of family intergenerational conflicts experienced. Results showed that more frequent language brokering for the mother predicted a higher likelihood of family intergenerational conflict, and all three familial contextual variables moderated this association. The findings suggest that interpersonal factors embedded within the family context must be considered in order to better understand language brokering processes.