"A Parallel Process Model of Integration and Multidimensional Prosocial Behaviors in Recent Immigrant U.S. Latinx Adolescents"

Professor Gustavo Carlo (right) published an article in Psychological Reports examining prosocial development among recent immigrant adolescents.
 
The title of the article is “A Parallel Process Model of Integration and Multidimensional Prosocial Behaviors in Recent Immigrant U.S. Latinx Adolescents.”
 
Co-authors are Assistant Professor Meredith McGinley (University of Wisconsin, first author), Assistant Professor Alexandra N. Davis (University of New Mexico), Professor Seth J. Schwartz (University of Miami), Elma L. Lorenzo-Blanco (University of Texas), Assistant Professor Jennifer B. Unger (USC), Professor Jose Szapozcnik (University of Miami), Professor Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati ((USC), Project Manager Daniel W. Soto (USC), Associate Professor Sabrina E. Des Rosiers (Barry University), Program Administrator Juan A. Villamar (Northwestern University), Clinical Subjects Coordinator Karina M. Lizzi (University of Michigan).
 
Carlo’s primary research interest focuses on understanding positive social development and health in culturally diverse children and adolescents. Many of his projects focus on U.S. ethnic/racial groups, including Latino/a youth and families. He has published more than 200 books, chapters, and research papers. He currently serves as a member of the Society for Research in Child Development Governing Council, as associate editor of the International Journal of Behavioral Development, and as co-editor of the upcoming APA Handbook of Adolescent Development.

​Abstract
 
With a growing population of Latinx youth immigrating to the United States, it is important to understand how Latinx youth adapt to mainstream U.S. culture. Given that the majority of research examining social development among recent immigrant adolescents has focused on negative adjustment outcomes, research examining positive social behaviors is needed to avoid deficit approaches to their development, gain a holistic understanding of youth development, and improve interventions with this population. This study examined the associations among trajectories in cultural integration and multiple prosocial behaviors among recent immigrant U.S. Latinx adolescents in Miami, Florida and Los Angeles, California. Adolescents (N = 302; 53.3% males; M age = 14.51 years) completed measures of integration and prosocial behaviors across six time points. Latent growth curve models indicated that integration significantly increased, though this growth tapered off over time. The growth in prosocial behaviors depended on the specific form of helping assessed. While the growth in altruistic and compliant prosocial behaviors was stagnant, there was an increase in anonymous prosocial behaviors and a decrease in public and dire prosocial behaviors. Emotional behaviors did not linearly change, though slightly tapered off by the final time points. Parallel process latent growth curve model results indicated positive correlations between the slopes of cultural integration and most forms of prosocial behaviors. These findings highlight the positive role of cultural integration as an acculturative process for U.S. Latinx youth and the multidimensionality of prosocial behaviors.