The effects of family involvement on the problem and prosocial behavior outcomes of Latino youth

This investigation was an analysis of data collected by Identity, Inc. using the Identity Positive Youth Development Survey for Latino Youth. Via a Central Location Intercept strategy, data was collected from male and female Latino adolescents (n = 446) between the ages of 14 and 19 who reside in Montgomery County, Maryland. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of five family involvement variables on the problem and prosocial behavior outcomes of Latino youth, represented by nine and six continuous variables, respectively. The goals of the study were: (1) to ascertain the salience of particular variables within the family context key to preventing problem behavior and fostering prosocial behavior involvement in Latino adolescents; (2) to further our general understanding of key constructs to incorporate into a unified conceptual framework of Positive Youth Development; and (3) to inform, in part, the development of a Positive Youth Development program in Montgomery County for Latino adolescents.;The specific hypotheses of this research were that high levels of family involvement would be associated with less problem behavior and more prosocial behavior involvement. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between the family involvement and behavioral variables, and to determine which familial variable most strongly predicts each behavioral variable.;High levels of the majority of family involvement variables were associated with less problem behavior involvement (i.e., binge drinking, other drinking-related behaviors, marijuana use, and partying-, violence-, and gang-related behaviors), and more prosocial behavior involvement (i.e., involvement in school and non-school based team, club, and program activities, other extracurricular activities, and family helping and quality time activities). Teens from two-parent families were less involved in the various problem behaviors when compared to teens from any other family structure. Teens that reported a lawful residency status were more involved in extracurricular activities, while teens that reported an unlawful residency status were more involved in employment activities. On the whole, familial connectedness and parent/guardian monitoring, respectively, emerged as the most important predictors of problem behavior involvement, while the variables representing parent/guardian and familial encouragement/support were the most important predictors of prosocial behavior involvement.