In 2010, approximately one
out of four youths in the United States were immigrant children. Hispanics and
Asians comprised the largest groups (58% and 16%), respectively. Today, the
Hispanic population is the largest ethnic minority in the United States (15%)
and is a majority of the U.S. foreign-born population (47%).
While immigration
is a positive process for most immigrants, resettlement into a new country has
challenges, including acculturation adjustments. Youth engage in risky
behaviors such as substance use and antisocial behaviors. For immigrant youth
with limited supportive opportunities, however, the acculturation process can be
difficult. Stress, alienation, and stigma often manifest and cause behavioral
problems, including aggression.
This pilot study examines the mediating effect
of antisocial attitudes using sociocultural, developmental, and environmental
factors to understand Hispanic youth problem behaviors. We sampled 136 youths,
ages 6-12, from predominantly Hispanic elementary schools in the southwestern
United States to ascertain the role of aggression and antisocial behavior in
substance use attitudes.
The results show significant differences in
aggression, antisocial attitudes, and substance use according to (1) age, (2)
years in the United States, (3) English level, and (4) relationship with
mother. Aggression significantly predicted antisocial attitudes and substance
use, with antisocial attitudes having a mediating effect on the relationship
between aggression and substance use.
In developing social service programs to
prevent substance use among children from immigrant families, social work
educators and practitioners may consider addressing the role of aggression in
Hispanic adolescents' future behavior.
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- 1 School of Social Work , University of Texas , Arlington , Texas , USA.
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