Cultural values mediate the effect of parenting styles on Mexican American adolescents' prosocial behaviors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relations between supportive and strict parenting, traditional Mexican American culture values (respect and traditional gender roles), and prosocial tendencies in Mexican American adolescents. Participants (n=207) completed questionnaires regarding their parents' support and strictness, their endorsement of the cultural values respect and traditional gender roles, and their tendencies to engage in six types of prosocial behaviors. Structural equation modeling was conducted. The model was not significantly different for boys and girls. Results indicated that supportive and strict parenting both positively predicted respect values. Strict parenting was negatively associated with traditional gender roles, and support was not associated with traditional gender roles. Respect positively predicted dire, compliant, emotional, and anonymous prosocial tendencies, and traditional gender roles positively predicted anonymous and public prosocial tendencies and negatively predicted altruistic prosocial tendencies. Discussion will focus on the significance of parenting and cultural values for Mexican American adolescent prosocial behaviors and the differential relations between these values and different types of prosocial tendencies.