Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between Berry’s acculturation typology and HIV risk behaviors and whether family
functioning mediated any such effects. A total of 235 high risk Hispanic adolescents were categorized into one of Berry’s
four acculturation typologies through the use of cut-off scores on measures of Hispanicism and Americanism. Structural equation
modeling was used to examine the effects of acculturation typology on HIV risk behaviors and the indirect effects of acculturation
typology on HIV risk behaviors through family functioning. Acculturation typology was related to HIV risk behaviors. Family
functioning partially mediated the effects of acculturation typology on the HIV risk behavior outcomes. These findings suggest
that both Americanism and Hispanicism play an important role in the etiology of HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic youth and
that both, along with family functioning, are important to consider when designing preventive interventions for this population.
functioning mediated any such effects. A total of 235 high risk Hispanic adolescents were categorized into one of Berry’s
four acculturation typologies through the use of cut-off scores on measures of Hispanicism and Americanism. Structural equation
modeling was used to examine the effects of acculturation typology on HIV risk behaviors and the indirect effects of acculturation
typology on HIV risk behaviors through family functioning. Acculturation typology was related to HIV risk behaviors. Family
functioning partially mediated the effects of acculturation typology on the HIV risk behavior outcomes. These findings suggest
that both Americanism and Hispanicism play an important role in the etiology of HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic youth and
that both, along with family functioning, are important to consider when designing preventive interventions for this population.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9627-1
- Authors
- Colleen Farrelly, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Center for Family Studies, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1425 N.W., 10th Ave., 3rd Floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- David Cordova, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Center for Family Studies, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1425 N.W., 10th Ave., 3rd Floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Shi Huang, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Center for Family Studies, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1425 N.W., 10th Ave., 3rd Floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Yannine Estrada, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Center for Family Studies, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1425 N.W., 10th Ave., 3rd Floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Guillermo Prado, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Center for Family Studies, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1425 N.W., 10th Ave., 3rd Floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912