Mexican-origin Children Research Articles

A longitudinal test of Mexican-origin teen mothers' cultural characteristics and children's Spanish vocabulary via mothers' Spanish language use.

The present study examined whether teen mothers' adaptive cultural characteristics (i.e., familism values, language competency pressures, and involvement in Mexican culture and U.S. mainstream culture) when children were 3 years old (i.e., Wave 4; W4) informed mothers' Spanish language use with their children when children were 4 years old (W5) and, in turn, children's subsequent Spanish receptive vocabulary when children were 5 years old (W6). The present study included 204 Mexican-origin children (58% male) and their mothers who entered parenthood during adolescence (M = 16.24, SD = .99 at W1). Five mediational processes were significant, such that mothers' higher familism values (i.e., emphasizing family support and obligations), Spanish competency pressure (i.e., stress associated with Spanish language competency), and involvement in U.S. mainstream culture at W4 were associated with mothers' lower Spanish language use with children at W5 and, in turn, children's lower levels of Spanish receptive vocabulary at W6. Mothers' greater involvement in Mexican culture and English competency pressure (i.e., stress associated with English language competency) at W4 were associated with mothers' greater Spanish language use with children at W5 and, in turn, children's greater Spanish receptive vocabulary at W6. Additionally, mothers' greater involvement in U.S. mainstream culture at W4 was directly associated with children's lower Spanish language abilities at W6. Findings highlight the importance of the family context in Mexican-origin children's Spanish language skills over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Mexican-Origin Children's Trajectories of Ethnic-Racial Pride from Childhood through Emerging Adulthood: Associations with Mothers and Fathers' Trajectories.

Ethnic-racial pride (positive feelings about one's ethnic-racial group) is critical to healthy identity development across the lifespan. Research on ethnic-racial pride development among Latinx populations has focused exclusively on youth, without regard to pride development amongst parents and relations between pride within family units. Using multivariate Latent Growth Curve Modelling among 674 Mexican-origin youth and their parents (673 mothers; 437 fathers), the trajectory of youth's pride from 5th grade through emerging adulthood (14 years/12 waves of data) as well as relations with parental pride trajectories were examined. Respondents' pride generally decreased from waves 1 to 7 (~age 11-17 in youth) and increased after wave 7. Youth's and mothers' trajectories were unrelated, but complex associations emerged between youth's and fathers' trajectories. This study supports the dynamic nature of ethnic-racial pride across distinct life stages and underscores the complex interplay of youth and parental pride trajectories, emphasizing the pivotal role parents may play in co-shaping identity development alongside their children.

Children's ethnic-racial identity and mothers' cultural socialization as protective in relations between sociocultural risk factors and children's internalizing behaviors.

The present study examined whether sociocultural risk factors (i.e., mothers' risky behaviors, mothers' and grandmothers' ethnic discrimination, and family economic hardship) predicted children's internalizing behaviors. We also tested whether sociocultural protective factors, including children's positive ethnic-racial identity (ERI) attitudes and mothers' cultural socialization, moderated relations. Participants were 182 5-year-old Mexican-origin children, their mothers, and grandmothers. Findings indicated that children's positive ERI attitudes were protective, such that grandmothers' discrimination predicted children's greater internalizing at low levels of children's positive ERI attitudes, but this relation was not significant at high levels of children's positive ERI attitudes. Mothers' cultural socialization was also protective, such that mothers' risky behaviors predicted children's greater internalizing at low levels of mothers' cultural socialization, but this relation was not significant at high levels of mothers' cultural socialization. Economic hardship predicted children's greater internalizing and no variables moderated this relation. Findings highlight that mothers' engagement in risky behaviors, grandmothers' ethnic discrimination experiences, and family economic hardship contribute to children's greater internalizing behaviors. However, in some of these relations, children's positive ERI attitudes and mothers' cultural socialization are protective. In future research and programming, a consideration of the role of individual, family, and cultural factors will be important for addressing and reducing children's internalizing behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Four decades after Castañeda: a critical analysis of Bilingual/Dual Language Education in Colorado.

The Castañeda Standard was handed down in 1981. We use this Standard along with Latino Critical Race Theory (Solorzano & Yosso, 2001) and Ruiz’s Language Orientations (1984) to conduct a historical analysis of bilingual education in Colorado from 1976 to 2019 to examine the availability of bilingual/dual language education for Latinx students over four decades. Our historical analysis resulted in dividing Colorado’s bilingual history into four time periods (1976–1981; 1981–2000, 2000–2018 and 2019-present). Findings indicated that other than a brief period (1976–1981) the history of bilingual education and all other program types in Colorado has been oriented toward language as a problem and toward systemic racism with regard to language policies and practices. However, the community also developed resistant capital to maintain bilingual education despite formidable odds. This is particularly true for Spanish speaking Mexican origin children and families. Moreover, we demonstrate that while Castañeda had some influence on bilingual education over the past 40 years, it could have had much more if the Standard had been updated over time especially regarding Prongs 1 and 3. We conclude that Castañeda needs to be updated and strengthened especially in states such as Colorado with weak oversight and monitoring of programs for EB students.

Mexican-origin 5-year-old children's ethnic-racial identity centrality and attitudes predicting social functioning.

Early childhood is an important developmental period to focus on the outcomes associated with ethnic-racial identity (ERI) given that children notice racial differences, are processing information about ethnicity and race, and have race-related experiences. The present study tested whether three components of ERI (i.e., positive attitudes, negative attitudes, and centrality) predicted children's social functioning (i.e., interactive, disruptive, and disconnected play with peers; externalizing behaviors; and observed frustration and cooperation with an adult). Child sex was also tested as a moderator. The present study included 182 5-year-old Mexican-origin children (57% male) of mothers who entered parenthood during adolescence (M = 21.95, SD = 1.00). Children's positive ethnic-racial attitudes were associated with greater social functioning (i.e., greater interactive play and less externalizing behaviors) among boys and girls, and less frustration among boys. Negative ethnic-racial attitudes predicted maladaptive social functioning (i.e., greater disruptive play) among boys and girls and more disconnected play among girls. Contrary to expectations, ethnic-racial centrality predicted boys' and girls' maladaptive social functioning (i.e., greater disruptive and disconnected play). Findings highlight the importance of fostering children's positive ethnic-racial attitudes and helping them discuss and cope with negative ethnic-racial attitudes to promote more adaptive social functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The Phenotypic, Psychological, and Social Interplays of Skin Color and Developmental Outcomes among Mexican-origin Adolescents: Dismantling Systems of Racism and Oppression during Adolescence: Dismantling Systems of Racism and Oppression during Adolescence.

Mexican-origin children from immigrant families are impacted by various systemic oppressions in life. The study seeks to examine how adolescents' developmental outcomes are associated with specific phenotypic, psychological, and social features of skin color, as manifested by skin tone, skin color satisfaction, and foreigner stress. By taking a holistic approach, we examine both positive and negative adjustment outcomes, including delinquency, resilience, and effortful control. Participants were 604 Mexican-origin adolescents aged between 11.08 and 15.29 (Mage = 12.91, SD = 0.92) with at least one immigrant parent. The findings highlight the harm of foreigner stress and the benefit of skin color satisfaction in Mexican-origin adolescents' development of delinquency, resilience, and effortful control, especially for those with a darker skin color.

Mexican-Origin Children's Educational Expectations and Academic Performance: Disparities Across Maternal Legal Status and Children’s Immigrant Generation

Mexican-Origin Children's Educational Expectations and Academic Performance: Disparities Across Maternal Legal Status and Children’s Immigrant Generation

Intrafamilial Characteristics Are Important Predictors of Children's Diets in New Mexico's Border Colonias.

We assessed selected nutritional indicators in Mexican-origin children in two low-income, rural colonias in New Mexico on the U.S.-Mexico border. These children are at higher risk for obesity and other chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition in childhood, but little is known about their diets. We surveyed mothers of 202 children 6 to 10 years old about sociodemographic characteristics, family and child attitudes and behaviors, and the child's diet. We compared diet with dietary recommendations and used regression trees to identify significant predictors of recommended intake. Among families, 89.1% participated in Medicaid, and 52.5% participated in a Supplemental Nutrition Program. More children met recommendations for fruit (36.1%) than vegetables (1.5%). Greater vegetable intake was associated with a child's not thinking healthy food tasted bad, greater family activity, and younger maternal age. Only 5.0% of children met the recommendation for <10% of energy from added sugar, with the average child consuming 2.4 times that from sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks. Lower sugar intake was associated with less screen time, not having TV on during meals, and playing team sports. Family access to healthy food and child use of mobile food vendors, vending and convenience stores were not predictive of diet. Hispanic children in border colonias have poor diets that put them at risk for obesity and numerous chronic diseases. Addressing this problem will require changing family norms and attitudes toward healthy food, screen time behavior, and physical activity levels within families.

Cross-National Comparison of Breastfeeding, Malnutrition and Associated Risk Factors among Mexican-Origin Children Living in Mexico and the US

To examine breastfeeding, individual and household risk factors for malnutrition (i.e., overweight and stunting) among Mexican-origin children aged 6 to 35 months living in Mexico and the US. We ran logistic regression models using subsamples of the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey, and four waves (2007-2014) of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We found evidence for a protective effect of any breastfeeding on stunting in Mexico. Risk factors for overweight and stunting across countries were high- and low-birthweight, correspondingly. An additional risk factor for overweight was introducing complementary foods before 6 months; while being male, living in Mexico and moderate-severe household food insecurity were additional risk factors for stunting. To prevent malnutrition among Mexican-origin children, pre- and post-natal culturally-sensitive policies and interventions in both countries should be aimed toward preventing high- and low-birthweight, and promoting positive maternal health behaviors such as appropriate child feeding practices.

Maternal Educational Attainment and Child Health in the United States.

To identify how child health status differs by mother's educational attainment for the overall US population and by race/ethnicity and to assess whether these disparities have changed from 2000 to 2017. Repeated cross-sectional data from the 2000-2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). United States. Children aged 1 to 17 years from a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized US population (N = 199 427). Reported child health status, mother's educational attainment, child's race/ethnicity, and control variables were measured using the NHIS. Using logistic regression models, we assessed the relationship between maternal education and child health. Missing data were imputed. Children whose mothers had less than a high school education (odds ratio [OR] = 3.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.62-4.07), high school diploma or equivalent (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 2.44-2.70), or some college (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.80-2.00) had worse reported health status compared to children whose mothers graduated college. These associations were strongest among non-Hispanic white children, with significantly (P < .05) smaller associations observed for non-Hispanic black, Mexican origin, and other Hispanic children. The associations were smaller but persisted with inclusion of controls. From 2000 to 2017, child health disparities slightly narrowed or remained stagnant among white, non-Hispanic black, and other Hispanic children but widened for Mexican origin children (P < .05). Maternal education disparities in child health are wide and have persisted.

Maternal Self-Efficacy Is Protective for Child (but Not Mother) Body Mass Index Among Mexican-Origin Children with Negative Temperament.

Childhood obesity persists as a serious public health concern, particularly among Mexican-origin youth. Teen mothers are also at heightened obesity risk. Multiple factors may exacerbate this risk, including stressors associated with parenting. Indeed, difficult child temperaments pose unique parenting challenges, which may also be linked to physical health outcomes in mothers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the interaction between negative child temperament and parenting self-efficacy is related to the body mass index (BMI) of young children and their adolescent mothers while controlling for important contextual factors. We also examined which pathways differed for girls versus boys. Data were from a longitudinal study spanning 5 years that included 204 Mexican-origin young mothers and their children (with data collected at birth, age 4 years, and age 5 years). A multigroup structural equation modeling framework was used. The rate of early childhood obesity was low in comparison with national averages, whereas the rate of adolescent mother obesity was notably higher than the national average. Negative child temperament was associated with higher child BMI among those adolescent mothers with low parenting self-efficacy. Among the children with a negative temperament, their mothers' high parenting self-efficacy may have served as a protective factor against unhealthy child BMI. This significant interaction held for both boys and girls. Research evaluating the potential effectiveness of interventions that promote parenting self-efficacy during early childhood as a means to reduce the rate of obesity among children of adolescent mothers should be conducted.

New Destinations and the Early Childhood Education of Mexican-Origin Children.

This study examined differences in exposure to early childhood education among Mexican-origin children across Latino/a destinations. Early childhood educational enrollment patterns, which are highly sensitive to community resources and foundational components of long-term educational inequalities, can offer a valuable window into how destinations may be shaping incorporation among Mexican-origin families. Integrating data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort with county-level data from the decennial census, multilevel logistic regression models revealed that Mexican-origin, black, and white children had lower odds of enrollment in early childhood education programs if they lived in new Latino/a destinations versus established destinations. The negative association between new destinations and early childhood education enrollment persisted despite controls for household selectivity, state and local early childhood education contexts, Latino/a educational attainment, Latino-white residential segregation, and immigration enforcement agreements. Within the Mexican-origin subgroup, the enrollment gap between new and established destinations was widest among the least-acculturated families, as measured by parental nativity, duration of residence, citizenship status, and English proficiency. These findings highlight how both place and acculturation stratify outcomes within the large and growing Mexican-origin subset of the Latino/a population.

Mothers’ and Childrens’ Health Self-Rating: A Comparative Study Within and Across Various Ethnic Groups

Despite Latino adults’ health advantages in the United States, they tend to have worse self-rated health (SRH) than non-Hispanic Whites. This finding extends to Latina mothers’ ratings of their children’s health, but it is unknown whether Latino children also have worse SRH than Whites. We investigate this question, as well as variations in mother-child agreement in rating the child’s health by ethnicity, and the role of mothers’ acculturation in these associations. Using survey data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we find that Mexican-origin children’s SRH is worse than non-Hispanic White children’s SRH, but Mexican-origin children’s SRH is also often better than their mothers’ ratings of the children’s health. Maternal acculturation explains some of the relationship between Mexican-origin and child SRH, with particular facets of the acculturation experience operating in different directions. We discuss the implications of these findings for understandings of racial/ethnic disparities in health, particularly among children.

Maternal depression and acculturative stress impacts on Mexican-origin children through authoritarian parenting

Depression and acculturative stress are common among Latina mothers, yet little is known about how these variables are related to parenting practices and in turn, to the mental health functioning of their young children. The present study used a sample of Mexican-origin mothers of 3- to 6-year-old children (N = 175) to test a model of maternal depression and acculturative stress as predictors of child internalizing and externalizing problems, mediated by authoritarian and authoritative parenting practices. Results showed that maternal depressive symptoms and acculturative stress were associated with child internalizing, but not externalizing, problems. Only authoritarian practices mediated these associations. Results highlight the importance of considering sociocultural context in the study of child mental health in Mexican-origin populations.

Do Co-ethnic concentrated neighborhoods protect children with undocumented parents? Focusing on child behavioral functioning

Undocumented immigrants concentrate in ethnic enclaves, but little is known about the implications of living in such neighborhoods for children of undocumented immigrants. Using data on Mexican-origin children from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey and the decennial census, this paper examines the influence of co-ethnic concentrated neighborhoods on children's behavioral functioning, and the extent to which parental nativity and documentation status moderate the neighborhood effects. Multilevel linear regression models show that the proportion of co-ethnics in the neighborhood apparently has no influence on Mexican-origin children. However, cross-level interactions reveal that the neighborhood context has differential effects by parental documentation status. The higher the percentage of co-ethnics in the neighborhood, the lower (better) the externalizing scores for children of undocumented immigrants, a pattern not observed for children of US-born or documented parents. The mechanism through which co-ethnic enclaves benefit children of undocumented Mexican immigrants deserves future research.

Are Latino children of Mexican origin with asthma less responsive to inhaled corticosteroids than white children?

Are Latino children of Mexican origin with asthma less responsive to inhaled corticosteroids than white children?

Burden of Illness, Primary Care Use, and Medication Utilization among US-México Border Children with Wheezing.

Among high-risk, underserved populations, such as children living along the US-México border, suffering from asthma-like symptoms without an asthma diagnosis can result in a high burden of illness. We estimated the prevalence of physician-diagnosed and possible undiagnosed asthma among students with histories of wheezing in the US-México border community of El Paso, Texas, and evaluated their burden of illness, primary care use, and medication utilization. We analyzed cross-sectional survey data collected in May 2012. The survey included validated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) items. We performed bivariate and logistic regression analyses on data from 307 students who wheezed. Forty-two percent of students had possible undiagnosed asthma and 58% had physician-diagnosed asthma based on primary caretaker reports. Children of Mexican origin were more likely to report undiagnosed vs. diagnosed asthma (p < 0.05). Children with an asthma diagnosis were more likely to report any medication use for wheezing/asthma and to experience a higher burden of illness in the last year compared to students with possible undiagnosed asthma (p < 0.05). The burden of illness among these children was high; however, children with asthma-like symptoms were not faring worse than children with asthma symptoms and a diagnosis. Undiagnosed children were being evaluated and receiving treatment for their symptoms; however, by not receiving a diagnosis, they were eliciting an ameliorative rather than preventive treatment strategy.

Community contexts and utilization of early childhood care and education among Mexican-origin children

Children of Mexican origin are under-enrolled in early childhood education programs relative to Black and White children, which is problematic given the potential benefits of early childhood education. To better understand this under-enrollment in ways that can inform efforts to change it in the future, this study examined how utilization of early care and education programs varied among Mexican-origin families according to the community contexts where they lived. Integrating data on Mexican-origin children in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (n = 1100) with community data from the U.S. Census Bureau, logistic regressions revealed that the odds of enrollment in early care and education programs among Mexican-origin children increased as the supply of childcare centers in their counties increased. Holding childcare center supply constant, their enrollment also increased as the percent of co-ethnic Latinos/as in the county increased, especially for children from the least acculturated Mexican-origin families. Overall, these results suggest that ethnic enclaves might link Mexican-origin families to early childhood care and education programs for their children and that this role might be most important for families least likely to be connected to U.S. institutions.

Patterns of Screen Time Among Rural Mexican-American Children on the New Mexico-Mexico Border.

IntroductionThe prevalence of obesity is 26% among Hispanic children and teenagers and 47% among Hispanic adults. One contributor to obesity is sedentary behavior, such as using electronic screen devices (ie, screens). Low-income and Hispanic youths spend more time using such devices than other youths.MethodsWe interviewed 202 parents of Mexican-origin children aged 6 to 10 years in 2 rural communities near the US–Mexico border to determine screen use among children. We tested for associations between covariates and heavy screen use (≥4 hours/day) and calculated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) to identify independent, modifiable risk factors for such use.ResultsMore than two-thirds (68.3%) of households had an annual income of less than $24,000, 89.1% spoke primarily Spanish, and 92.1% had internet access. The percentage of children with heavy screen use was 14.9% on weekdays and 25.2% on weekends. Smartphones were used by 62.4% of children, desktops or laptops by 60.9%; homework was the most common reason for use of these devices. One in 3 children used them for social media. Increased odds of heavy screen use were associated with having a television on while the child ate (weekday AOR = 3.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–8.45 and weekend AOR = 2.38; 95% CI, 1.04–5.40) and using electronics to entertain (weekend AOR = 2.94; 95% CI, 1.15–7.51). More than 3 family meals per week (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.17–0.94 compared with ≤3 meals) and 2 or 3 family activities per week (AOR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12–0.87 compared with ≤1 activity) were associated with decreased odds of heavy weekend use.ConclusionEven in low-income, Spanish-speaking communities, children have access to electronic devices, social media, and the internet, and a substantial fraction of them are heavy users. Efforts to reduce screen time might focus on understanding and changing the social norms that promote it.

Language Hegemonies and their Discontents: History, Theory, Bilingualism, and Funds of Knowledge

This article reviews hegemonic impositions of language and culture over the history of the Southwest North American Region, beginning with Spanish imperial attempts to erase the existing linguistic and cultural practices of Indigenous communities. It goes on to consider the educational processes by which English language and American culture were imposed on Mexican American children and communities following the American Mexican War. Along with hegemonic attempts to subdue and dominate populations, the article also explores the myriad ways subjugated populations have expressed their discontent, from violent revolt to the creation of alternative educational programs. With reference to the latter, given the well-attested benefits of bilingualism, it is argued that one way to capitalize on the cultural and linguistic capacities of transborder populations is to integrate dual-language education and a funds of knowledge approach. Engagement in Mexican-origin children’s social networks will help educators to counter the process of cultural erasure and to ensure that bilingual programs benefit language-minority students, and not just middle-class, English-dominant students. Without support for Mexican-origin and other Latino/a students to emerge fully as complex cultural beings, we will continue to perpetuate a situation of linguistic and cultural hegemony where populations are restricted from their full human potential.