Jennifer A Kam
Biographic Data
| ID | 90452 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jennifer A Kam |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jennifer A |
| FAMILY NAME | Kam |
| SIGNATURE | KAM J A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7666-4469 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 41 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 171 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 41 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 7 |
Technology-mediated communication among migrant families separated by borders: Understanding the tensions of relational maintenance
This study examined how highly under-resourced Latina/o/x/e families used technologically mediated communication to maintain their relationship when experiencing migration-based family separation. Drawing on relational maintenance literature, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 family triads, each including a father, mother, and child (children between 9 and 17 years old). The findings extend past research on relational maintenance …
Using culturally-grounded, animation narratives to encourage undocumented and U.S.-born college students to talk to a mental health professional
Exploring the Relationship Between Exposure to Media Depictions of Undocumented Immigrants, Identity Management, and Undocumented Immigrants’ Family Communication Profiles
Using longitudinal survey data from 366 undocumented college students, a latent profile analysis was conducted to identify groups of students according to their identity management strategies (outlined by social identity theory), as reflected in protection-oriented and strengths-based family communication. The “ high competition and creativity” profile frequently engaged in communication suggesting social competition and creativity. The “ partial…
Using the Structural Influence Model to Explore U.S. Latina/O/X/E Undocumented Immigrants’ Covid-19 Information Acquisition, Perceptions, and Prevention Behaviors
In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. undocumented immigrants were at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, with many of them being "frontline essential workers" and residing in crowded living spaces. Given undocumented immigrants' elevated susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 at the peak of uncertainty surrounding the virus, we used the structural influence model of communication to explore: (1) how undocumented immigrants acquir…
Relational Maintenance for Separated Latina/o/x/e Immigrant Parents and Their Children: A Focus on Primary Caregivers as Communication Gatekeepers
Latina/o/x/e families who experience migration-related separation face the heart-wrenching decision to live apart from each other, often to obtain better life opportunities for the entire family. In these situations, children live in a country separate from one or more parents, while a primary caregiver (e.g., the other parent, a grandmother, an aunt) looks after the children. Utilizing semi-structured interview data with 20 family triads (i.e., …
Advancing advocacy communication theory: A theory grounded in undocumented college students’ motivations and strategies for challenging oppression
Undocumented college students experience a myriad of stressors (e.g., fear of deportation, limited resources; transitioning to college; Enriquez et al., 2018; Hurst et al., 2013) because of systemic oppression, yet they often engage in various advocacy efforts to challenge those oppressive systems. Although different persuasion (e.g., Focus Theory of Normative Conduct, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Anger Activism Model; Ajzen, 1991, 2005; C…
Using resilience theory to examine undocumented students’ “know your rights” family communication
Given the distribution of "Know Your Rights" information on college campuses, our findings can provide evidence for the utility of such messages, while also potentially identifying when it is associated with higher levels of anxiety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
College students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca): Unpacking the meaning of thriving through conversation with Daca friends and allies
Relational maintenance among separated Latina/o/x/e immigrant families: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Parents and Children
Prior relational maintenance research primarily (a) considers only one family member's perspective, (b) explores introspective communication, and (c) examines romantic relationships among highly resourced white samples in the United States. This study considered low-income, Latina/o/x/e immigrant families' maintenance before, during, and after migration-related separation, using standpoint theory, social communication theory, and the long-distanc…
Exploring how cultural and structural elements relate to communal coping for separated Latina/o/x immigrant families
Family immigration-related separation is incredibly stressful; however, Latina/o/x separated families might engage in communal coping to help mitigate those stressors. Utilizing the extended theoretical model of communal coping, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 family triads (i.e., separated parent, separated child, primary caregiver) who were experiencing or had recently experienced immigration-related family separation. We explor…
Enacting resilience at multiple levels during the Covid-19 pandemic: Exploring communication theory of resilience for U.S. undocumented college students
During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students faced a number of stressors that threatened their health and well-being. Undocumented college students faced similar stressors and additional ones that were unique to their immigration status. Drawing from communication theory of resilience, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with Mexican-origin undocumented college students in California. Our findings extended past research on the communicat…
Latina/o/x undocumented college students’ perceived barriers and motivations for talking to a campus mental health professional: A focus on communication, culture, and structural barriers
Although undocumented students face numerous stressors that can lead to mental health strain, they often underutilize their campus mental health services. To identify the barriers and motivations for talking to a campus mental health professional (MHP) and to extend the Health Belief Model (HBM), we conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 Latina/o/x undocumented college students. Family communication revealed views that undermined talking to…
Testing advocacy communication theory among undocumented college students using latent profile analysis
Undocumented college students face systemic oppression, which they challenge through advocacy. Often, research focuses on one type of advocacy, but Advocacy Communication Theory (ACT) conceptualizes advocacy as multidimensional – minoritized people can engage in communicative strategies at the interpersonal, mediated, community, organizational, and policy levels to challenge oppression. Here, we used three waves of longitudinal survey data from 3…
The Importance of Norms and Efficacy in Predicting Undocumented College Students’ Intentions to Talk to an On-Campus Mental Health Professional
Drawing from an extended version of a focus theory of normative conduct, the extended parallel process model, and self-stigma, this study examined factors that predict undocumented college students' (UCS) intentions to talk to an on-campus mental health professional (MHP). Two hundred thirty-seven UCS completed an online survey between January-June, 2019. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that the more UCS believed their friends talk…
Communicating allyship according to college students with deferred action for childhood arrivals
Given the stress that college students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) experience and their minoritized status, some colleges have offered allyship training that informs campus personnel of the unique experiences of DACA and DACA-ineligible students. Although such trainings are promising, limited research has explored what actions communicate allyship to undocumented college students, including those with DACA. We conducted sem…
Latina/o/x Immigrant Youth’s Motivations for Disclosing their Family-Undocumented Experiences to a Teacher(s): A Latent Transition Analysis
Using the revelation risk model (RRM), we examined factors that might motivate family-undocumented youth (i.e., youth who are undocumented or who have an immediate family member who is undocumented) to confide in a teacher(s). Latent transition analysis with 414 Latina/o/x 9th-12th grade students uncovered three profiles: concerned indirect revealers (i.e., moderate teacher-student relational closeness, highest perceived risk of disclosing, lowes…
A Latent Profile Analysis of Undocumented College Students’ Protection-Oriented Family Communication and Strengths-Based Psychological Coping
Drawing from resilience theory, this study explored subgroups of undocumented college students (UCS) based on their patterns of protection-oriented family communication and strengths-based psychological coping. Using survey data from 237 UCS, latent profile analyses revealed three subgroups. Safe optimistic copers reported occasional documentation-seeking and know-your-rights communication, but higher means in prevention and right path communicat…
Discovering One’s Undocumented Immigration Status through Family Disclosures: The Perspectives of U.S. College Students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca)
Many undocumented youths who come to the United States as children are unaware of their status until family disclosure; this likely has identity implications for youth. Through 40 semi-structured interviews with deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) college students, we explored how youth discovered their undocumented status, the type of information that was discussed during family disclosures, and how these youth perceived their identity…
Spanish-speaking family members and non-Spanish speakers' supportive and unsupportive communication for Latina/o/x language brokers
Past research with Latina/o/x adolescent samples has found that language brokering can be a positive experience, but at times, stressful. Although many factors can contribute to these different brokering experiences, the ways in which Spanish-speaking family members and non-Spanish speakers support (or do not support) Latina/o/x adolescent children during their brokering exchanges can be a contributing factor. To better understand how Spanish-spe…
The Extended Theoretical Model of Communal Coping: Understanding the Properties and Functionality of Communal Coping
Most of the research on communal coping (CC) has assumed and found that it can enhance health, as well as strengthen entire communities, under stressful circumstances. Nevertheless, recent research has questioned the seemingly inherent benefits of CC. This article rectifies these discrepancies in the literature in a new, extended theoretical model of CC that crosses interpersonal, family, health, organizational, intercultural, and small group com…
Exploring the ascribed and avowed identities of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) recipients in early adulthood
Objectives: Using symbolic interactionism theory, we explore the different identity labels that Latinx and Asian DACA recipients (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) have reported are imposed on them (i.e., ascribed) and the different meanings behind such identity labels. We also examine the identity labels that DACA recipients adopt for themselves (i.e., avowed). Method: Forty semistructured interviews were conducted with DACA recipients who…
Understanding Latino/a language brokers' identity goals in association with parent-child relational quality
In the U.S., children of immigrant families often language broker-linguistically and culturally mediate for their family and members of U.S. mainstream culture. Previous research indicates that language brokering can have important implications for the parent-child relationship. Using survey data from 274 Latino/a sixth- to eighth-grade students, we examined how young brokers' identity goals (i.e., "acting Latino/a" and "acting U.S. American") an…
Privacy rules for revealing one's undocumented status to nonfamily members: Exploring the perspectives of undocumented youth of Mexican origin
Based on the theory of communication privacy management, we explored: (a) undocumented immigrant youth's privacy rules for managing their undocumented status disclosures to nonfamily members, and (b) responses to disclosures by recipients and undocumented youth. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 undocumented youth (10th-12th grades) who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. Youth managed their undocumented status with nonfamily memb…
Using a theoretical model of communal coping to understand changes in language brokers’ coping patterns: Implications for Latina/o early adolescents’ brokering stress and efficacy
Language brokering occurs when immigrant youth linguistically and culturally mediate for family and members of U.S. mainstream culture. Under some circumstances, brokering can be stressful. Based on a theoretical model of communal coping, this study utilized two waves of survey data from 342 Latina/o sixth- to eighth-grade students to identify different types of copers: (a) communal copers, (b) tentative copers, and (c) declined-ownership copers.…
Hope communication as a predictor of documented and undocumented Latina/o high school students’ college intentions across an academic year
Drawing from hope theory, we examined whether hope communication predicted undocumented and documented U.S. Latina/o youth’s college intentions across an academic year. With three waves of survey data from 172 documented and 253 undocumented Latina/o high school students, auto-regressive cross-lagged analyses revealed that parent, teacher, and friend hope communication at the beginning of the year indirectly increased students’ college intentions…
The Stressful (and Not So Stressful) Nature of Language Brokering: Identifying When Brokering Functions as a Cultural Stressor for Latino Immigrant Children in Early Adolescence
Applying General Strain Theory to Examine Perceived Discrimination’s Indirect Relation to Mexican-Heritage Youth’s Alcohol, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use
Perceived Discrimination as a Risk Factor for Latina/o Youth's Substance Use: Do Parent- and Peer-Based Communication and Relationship Resources Act as Protective Factors
Based on general strain theory, it was hypothesized that as Latina/o youth experience perceived discrimination, they are more likely to develop acculturation stress and, in turn, more likely to use substances. Two additional hypotheses were set forth to examine how parent- and peer-based communication, relationship, and norm resources may function as buffers, thereby decreasing the likelihood that strained youth will use substances. Latina/o yout…
Privacy rules for revealing one's undocumented status to nonfamily members: Exploring the perspectives of undocumented youth of Mexican origin
Based on the theory of communication privacy management, we explored: (a) undocumented immigrant youth's privacy rules for managing their undocumented status disclosures to nonfamily members, and (b) responses to disclosures by recipients and undocumented youth. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 undocumented youth (10th-12th grades) who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. Youth managed their undocumented status with nonfamily memb…
Using an Acculturation‐Stress‐Resilience Framework to Explore Latent Profiles of Latina/o Language Brokers
With survey data from 243 Latina/o early adolescent language brokers, latent profile analyses were conducted to identify different types (i.e., profiles) of brokers. Profiles were based on how often Latina/o early adolescents brokered for family members, as well as their levels of family-based acculturation stress, negative brokering beliefs, parentification, and positive brokering beliefs. Three brokering profiles emerged: (1) infrequent-ambival…
The Associations Between Parents' References to Their Own Past Substance Use and Youth's Substance-Use Beliefs and Behaviors: A Comparison of Latino and European American Youth
Using primary socialization theory and theory of planned behavior, this study examined how targeted parent–child communication against substance use and parents' references to the negative consequences of their own past substance use (from the youth's perspective) directly and indirectly relate to Latino and European American youth's external norms (e.g., injunctive and descriptive), internal beliefs (e.g., personal norms, attitudes, and refusal …
Parent-Child Communication's Attenuating Effects on Mexican Early Adolescents' Perceived Discrimination, Depressive Symptoms, and Substance Use: Communication Against Substance Use
Journal Article Parent–Child Communication's Attenuating Effects on Mexican Early Adolescents' Perceived Discrimination, Depressive Symptoms, and Substance Use Get access Jennifer A. Kam, Jennifer A. Kam 1Department of Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4020, USA, 1Corresponding author: Jennifer A. Kam: e-mail Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Felipe González Cast…
Grandparents' and young adult grandchildren's identity gaps and perceived caregiving intentions: An actor-partner interdependence model
Utilizing communication theory of identity, this study examined identity gaps in relation to grandparents' (GPs') and their young adult grandchildren's (GC's) communication satisfaction and, in turn, perceptions of GC's caregiving intentions. Actor-partner interdependence models were examined with path analyses, using self-reported, cross-sectional survey data from GPs and GC (200 dyads). In regard to actor effects, as GPs and GC experienced iden…
Identifying Changes in Youth's Subgroup Membership Over Time Based on Their Targeted Communication About Substance Use with Parents and Friends
Using latent class/transition analyses, this study: (a) identified subgroups of youth based on their targeted communication about substance use with parents and friends, (b) examined subgroup differences in substance use, and (c) considered changes in subgroup membership over four years. Among 5,874 youth, five subgroups emerged, with parents-only communicators having the lowest substance use. Friends-only and consequence-focused communicators re…
Communicating allyship according to college students with deferred action for childhood arrivals
Given the stress that college students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) experience and their minoritized status, some colleges have offered allyship training that informs campus personnel of the unique experiences of DACA and DACA-ineligible students. Although such trainings are promising, limited research has explored what actions communicate allyship to undocumented college students, including those with DACA. We conducted sem…
Understanding Latino/a language brokers' identity goals in association with parent-child relational quality
In the U.S., children of immigrant families often language broker-linguistically and culturally mediate for their family and members of U.S. mainstream culture. Previous research indicates that language brokering can have important implications for the parent-child relationship. Using survey data from 274 Latino/a sixth- to eighth-grade students, we examined how young brokers' identity goals (i.e., "acting Latino/a" and "acting U.S. American") an…
Latina/o/x undocumented college students’ perceived barriers and motivations for talking to a campus mental health professional: A focus on communication, culture, and structural barriers
Although undocumented students face numerous stressors that can lead to mental health strain, they often underutilize their campus mental health services. To identify the barriers and motivations for talking to a campus mental health professional (MHP) and to extend the Health Belief Model (HBM), we conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 Latina/o/x undocumented college students. Family communication revealed views that undermined talking to…
Using a theoretical model of communal coping to understand changes in language brokers’ coping patterns: Implications for Latina/o early adolescents’ brokering stress and efficacy
Language brokering occurs when immigrant youth linguistically and culturally mediate for family and members of U.S. mainstream culture. Under some circumstances, brokering can be stressful. Based on a theoretical model of communal coping, this study utilized two waves of survey data from 342 Latina/o sixth- to eighth-grade students to identify different types of copers: (a) communal copers, (b) tentative copers, and (c) declined-ownership copers.…
Parental Hope Communication and Parent-Adolescent Constructive Conflict Management: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis
Drawing from relational conflict management research and hope theory, the present study hypothesized that parental hope communication is positively related to constructive parent-adolescent conflict management. Utilizing three waves of longitudinal survey data from 393 Latina/o 6th–8th grade students, we tested the hypotheses using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model, which partitions variance at the between-person and within-person level…
Language Brokering, Prosocial Capacities, and Intercultural Communication Apprehension Among Latina Mothers and Their Adolescent Children
Past research on language brokering has primarily focused on the positive and negative outcomes that children of immigrant families experience from brokering. Little is known, however, regarding the positive experiences that language brokees-the immigrant family members for whom children broker-garner from participating in this interaction. Utilizing survey data from 120 Latina/o mother-adolescent dyads, we examined whether more frequent particip…
Does Mother Know Best? An Actor-Partner Model of College-Age Women's Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Behavior
This study examined the associations of perceived threat, perceived efficacy, and parent–child communication with the extent to which college-age women received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Daughters and their mothers completed a survey about the HPV vaccine (N = 182 dyads). The results showed that mothers' perceived self-efficacy to talk to their daughters and mothers' response efficacy of the vaccine were indirectly related to mother…
Exploring the ascribed and avowed identities of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) recipients in early adulthood
Objectives: Using symbolic interactionism theory, we explore the different identity labels that Latinx and Asian DACA recipients (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) have reported are imposed on them (i.e., ascribed) and the different meanings behind such identity labels. We also examine the identity labels that DACA recipients adopt for themselves (i.e., avowed). Method: Forty semistructured interviews were conducted with DACA recipients who…
Spanish-speaking family members and non-Spanish speakers' supportive and unsupportive communication for Latina/o/x language brokers
Past research with Latina/o/x adolescent samples has found that language brokering can be a positive experience, but at times, stressful. Although many factors can contribute to these different brokering experiences, the ways in which Spanish-speaking family members and non-Spanish speakers support (or do not support) Latina/o/x adolescent children during their brokering exchanges can be a contributing factor. To better understand how Spanish-spe…
Advancing advocacy communication theory: A theory grounded in undocumented college students’ motivations and strategies for challenging oppression
Undocumented college students experience a myriad of stressors (e.g., fear of deportation, limited resources; transitioning to college; Enriquez et al., 2018; Hurst et al., 2013) because of systemic oppression, yet they often engage in various advocacy efforts to challenge those oppressive systems. Although different persuasion (e.g., Focus Theory of Normative Conduct, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Anger Activism Model; Ajzen, 1991, 2005; C…
Relational maintenance among separated Latina/o/x/e immigrant families: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Parents and Children
Prior relational maintenance research primarily (a) considers only one family member's perspective, (b) explores introspective communication, and (c) examines romantic relationships among highly resourced white samples in the United States. This study considered low-income, Latina/o/x/e immigrant families' maintenance before, during, and after migration-related separation, using standpoint theory, social communication theory, and the long-distanc…
Hope communication as a predictor of documented and undocumented Latina/o high school students’ college intentions across an academic year
Drawing from hope theory, we examined whether hope communication predicted undocumented and documented U.S. Latina/o youth’s college intentions across an academic year. With three waves of survey data from 172 documented and 253 undocumented Latina/o high school students, auto-regressive cross-lagged analyses revealed that parent, teacher, and friend hope communication at the beginning of the year indirectly increased students’ college intentions…
Longitudinal Effects of Best‐Friend Communication Against Substance Use for Latino and Non‐Latino White Early Adolescents
Prior research examining peer influences on adolescent alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use has primarily focused on the positive associations that peer substance use and offers have with adolescent use. Consequently, such research has often emphasized the negative influences of peers. This study, however, operationalizes peer influence through best‐friend communication against substance use and examines whether it indirectly protects against su…
Applying General Strain Theory to Examine Perceived Discrimination’s Indirect Relation to Mexican-Heritage Youth’s Alcohol, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use
The Effects of Language Brokering Frequency and Feelings on Mexican-Heritage Youth's Mental Health and Risky Behaviors
Language brokering is the communication process where individuals with no formal training (often children of immigrant families) linguistically mediate for 2 or more parties (usually adult family members and individuals from mainstream culture). This study examined the direct and indirect effects of language brokering on mental health and risky behaviors. Mexican-heritage youth (N = 684) from schools in Phoenix, AZ, completed surveys at 3 waves f…
Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Pediatricians’ Encouragement of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Implications for Health Disparities
Perceived Discrimination as a Risk Factor for Latina/o Youth's Substance Use: Do Parent- and Peer-Based Communication and Relationship Resources Act as Protective Factors
Based on general strain theory, it was hypothesized that as Latina/o youth experience perceived discrimination, they are more likely to develop acculturation stress and, in turn, more likely to use substances. Two additional hypotheses were set forth to examine how parent- and peer-based communication, relationship, and norm resources may function as buffers, thereby decreasing the likelihood that strained youth will use substances. Latina/o yout…
Identifying Changes in Youth's Subgroup Membership Over Time Based on Their Targeted Communication About Substance Use with Parents and Friends
Using latent class/transition analyses, this study: (a) identified subgroups of youth based on their targeted communication about substance use with parents and friends, (b) examined subgroup differences in substance use, and (c) considered changes in subgroup membership over four years. Among 5,874 youth, five subgroups emerged, with parents-only communicators having the lowest substance use. Friends-only and consequence-focused communicators re…
Does Mother Know Best? An Actor-Partner Model of College-Age Women's Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Behavior
This study examined the associations of perceived threat, perceived efficacy, and parent–child communication with the extent to which college-age women received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Daughters and their mothers completed a survey about the HPV vaccine (N = 182 dyads). The results showed that mothers' perceived self-efficacy to talk to their daughters and mothers' response efficacy of the vaccine were indirectly related to mother…
The Stressful (and Not So Stressful) Nature of Language Brokering: Identifying When Brokering Functions as a Cultural Stressor for Latino Immigrant Children in Early Adolescence
The Associations Between Parents' References to Their Own Past Substance Use and Youth's Substance-Use Beliefs and Behaviors: A Comparison of Latino and European American Youth
Using primary socialization theory and theory of planned behavior, this study examined how targeted parent–child communication against substance use and parents' references to the negative consequences of their own past substance use (from the youth's perspective) directly and indirectly relate to Latino and European American youth's external norms (e.g., injunctive and descriptive), internal beliefs (e.g., personal norms, attitudes, and refusal …
Longitudinal Effects of Best‐Friend Communication Against Substance Use for Latino and Non‐Latino White Early Adolescents
Prior research examining peer influences on adolescent alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use has primarily focused on the positive associations that peer substance use and offers have with adolescent use. Consequently, such research has often emphasized the negative influences of peers. This study, however, operationalizes peer influence through best‐friend communication against substance use and examines whether it indirectly protects against su…
Prospect Theory, Discrete Emotions, and Freedom Threats: An Extension of Psychological Reactance Theory
Consistent with earlier research supporting the use of narratives to increase message persuasiveness, this study examined the role of guilt and happiness following exposure to organ donation narratives presented in professionally produced radio ads. As hypothesized, the loss-frame narrative was significantly associated with heightened guilt, which was related to greater freedom threat perceptions and psychological reactance. Conversely, the loss-…
Parent-Child Communication's Attenuating Effects on Mexican Early Adolescents' Perceived Discrimination, Depressive Symptoms, and Substance Use: Communication Against Substance Use
Journal Article Parent–Child Communication's Attenuating Effects on Mexican Early Adolescents' Perceived Discrimination, Depressive Symptoms, and Substance Use Get access Jennifer A. Kam, Jennifer A. Kam 1Department of Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4020, USA, 1Corresponding author: Jennifer A. Kam: e-mail Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Felipe González Cast…
Grandparents' and young adult grandchildren's identity gaps and perceived caregiving intentions: An actor-partner interdependence model
Utilizing communication theory of identity, this study examined identity gaps in relation to grandparents' (GPs') and their young adult grandchildren's (GC's) communication satisfaction and, in turn, perceptions of GC's caregiving intentions. Actor-partner interdependence models were examined with path analyses, using self-reported, cross-sectional survey data from GPs and GC (200 dyads). In regard to actor effects, as GPs and GC experienced iden…
Parental Hope Communication and Parent-Adolescent Constructive Conflict Management: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis
Drawing from relational conflict management research and hope theory, the present study hypothesized that parental hope communication is positively related to constructive parent-adolescent conflict management. Utilizing three waves of longitudinal survey data from 393 Latina/o 6th–8th grade students, we tested the hypotheses using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model, which partitions variance at the between-person and within-person level…
Introduction to Special Issue
Using an Acculturation‐Stress‐Resilience Framework to Explore Latent Profiles of Latina/o Language Brokers
With survey data from 243 Latina/o early adolescent language brokers, latent profile analyses were conducted to identify different types (i.e., profiles) of brokers. Profiles were based on how often Latina/o early adolescents brokered for family members, as well as their levels of family-based acculturation stress, negative brokering beliefs, parentification, and positive brokering beliefs. Three brokering profiles emerged: (1) infrequent-ambival…
Language Brokering, Prosocial Capacities, and Intercultural Communication Apprehension Among Latina Mothers and Their Adolescent Children
Past research on language brokering has primarily focused on the positive and negative outcomes that children of immigrant families experience from brokering. Little is known, however, regarding the positive experiences that language brokees-the immigrant family members for whom children broker-garner from participating in this interaction. Utilizing survey data from 120 Latina/o mother-adolescent dyads, we examined whether more frequent particip…
Using a theoretical model of communal coping to understand changes in language brokers’ coping patterns: Implications for Latina/o early adolescents’ brokering stress and efficacy
Language brokering occurs when immigrant youth linguistically and culturally mediate for family and members of U.S. mainstream culture. Under some circumstances, brokering can be stressful. Based on a theoretical model of communal coping, this study utilized two waves of survey data from 342 Latina/o sixth- to eighth-grade students to identify different types of copers: (a) communal copers, (b) tentative copers, and (c) declined-ownership copers.…
Hope communication as a predictor of documented and undocumented Latina/o high school students’ college intentions across an academic year
Drawing from hope theory, we examined whether hope communication predicted undocumented and documented U.S. Latina/o youth’s college intentions across an academic year. With three waves of survey data from 172 documented and 253 undocumented Latina/o high school students, auto-regressive cross-lagged analyses revealed that parent, teacher, and friend hope communication at the beginning of the year indirectly increased students’ college intentions…
Understanding Latino/a language brokers' identity goals in association with parent-child relational quality
In the U.S., children of immigrant families often language broker-linguistically and culturally mediate for their family and members of U.S. mainstream culture. Previous research indicates that language brokering can have important implications for the parent-child relationship. Using survey data from 274 Latino/a sixth- to eighth-grade students, we examined how young brokers' identity goals (i.e., "acting Latino/a" and "acting U.S. American") an…
Privacy rules for revealing one's undocumented status to nonfamily members: Exploring the perspectives of undocumented youth of Mexican origin
Based on the theory of communication privacy management, we explored: (a) undocumented immigrant youth's privacy rules for managing their undocumented status disclosures to nonfamily members, and (b) responses to disclosures by recipients and undocumented youth. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 undocumented youth (10th-12th grades) who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. Youth managed their undocumented status with nonfamily memb…
The Extended Theoretical Model of Communal Coping: Understanding the Properties and Functionality of Communal Coping
Most of the research on communal coping (CC) has assumed and found that it can enhance health, as well as strengthen entire communities, under stressful circumstances. Nevertheless, recent research has questioned the seemingly inherent benefits of CC. This article rectifies these discrepancies in the literature in a new, extended theoretical model of CC that crosses interpersonal, family, health, organizational, intercultural, and small group com…
Exploring the ascribed and avowed identities of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) recipients in early adulthood
Objectives: Using symbolic interactionism theory, we explore the different identity labels that Latinx and Asian DACA recipients (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) have reported are imposed on them (i.e., ascribed) and the different meanings behind such identity labels. We also examine the identity labels that DACA recipients adopt for themselves (i.e., avowed). Method: Forty semistructured interviews were conducted with DACA recipients who…
Latina/o/x Immigrant Youth’s Motivations for Disclosing their Family-Undocumented Experiences to a Teacher(s): A Latent Transition Analysis
Using the revelation risk model (RRM), we examined factors that might motivate family-undocumented youth (i.e., youth who are undocumented or who have an immediate family member who is undocumented) to confide in a teacher(s). Latent transition analysis with 414 Latina/o/x 9th-12th grade students uncovered three profiles: concerned indirect revealers (i.e., moderate teacher-student relational closeness, highest perceived risk of disclosing, lowes…
A Latent Profile Analysis of Undocumented College Students’ Protection-Oriented Family Communication and Strengths-Based Psychological Coping
Drawing from resilience theory, this study explored subgroups of undocumented college students (UCS) based on their patterns of protection-oriented family communication and strengths-based psychological coping. Using survey data from 237 UCS, latent profile analyses revealed three subgroups. Safe optimistic copers reported occasional documentation-seeking and know-your-rights communication, but higher means in prevention and right path communicat…
Discovering One’s Undocumented Immigration Status through Family Disclosures: The Perspectives of U.S. College Students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca)
Many undocumented youths who come to the United States as children are unaware of their status until family disclosure; this likely has identity implications for youth. Through 40 semi-structured interviews with deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) college students, we explored how youth discovered their undocumented status, the type of information that was discussed during family disclosures, and how these youth perceived their identity…
Psychology (38 works) · Social Psychology (31 works) · Social Psychology (23 works) · Migration, Health and Trauma (21 works) · Developmental psychology (19 works) · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research (18 works) · Immigration (17 works) · Political science (17 works) · Sociology (13 works) · Clinical Psychology (12 works)