Person-environment fit: everyday conflict and coparenting conflict in Mexican-origin teen mother families

Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2015 Jan;21(1):136-45. doi: 10.1037/a0037069. Epub 2014 Aug 11.

Abstract

The current study examined whether a match or mismatch between teen mothers' cultural orientation and the cultural context of the family (i.e., familial ethnic socialization) predicted mother-daughter everyday and coparenting conflict, and in turn, teen mothers' adjustment. Participants were 204 Mexican-origin teen mothers (M age = 16.81 years; SD = 1.00). Consistent with a person-environment fit perspective, findings indicated that a mismatch between teen mothers' cultural orientation (i.e., high mainstream cultural involvement) and the cultural context of the family (i.e., higher levels of familial ethnic socialization) predicted greater mother-daughter everyday conflict and coparenting conflict 1 year later. However, when there was a match (i.e., high levels of familial ethnic socialization for teen mothers with high Mexican orientation), familial ethnic socialization was not associated with mother-daughter conflict. In addition, mother-daughter conflict was positively associated with depressive symptoms and engagement in risky behaviors 1 year later among all teen mothers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Culture
  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Family Characteristics / ethnology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mexican Americans
  • Mother-Child Relations / ethnology*
  • Mother-Child Relations / psychology*
  • Mothers
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Social Adjustment
  • Socialization
  • United States