Cultural Orientation as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Chinese American Adolescents' Discrimination Experiences and Delinquent Behaviors

• NCJ Number: 231874
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 39 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 1027-1040
• Author(s): Shiying Deng; Su Yeong Kim; Phillip W. Vaughan; Jing Li
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): R03HD051629; R24HD042849
• Sponsoring Agency: American Psychological Assoc; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD); Jacobs Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among Chinese American adolescents' discrimination experiences, cultural orientations, and delinquent behaviors.

Abstract

Data were collected from 311 Chinese American adolescents (58 percent girls) and their parents when the adolescents were seventh or eighth graders and again 4 years later. The data analyses demonstrated that adolescents' perceptions of discrimination and victimization experiences were significantly related to their delinquent behaviors conditionally based upon their cultural orientation. Specifically, adolescents' high Chinese cultural orientation amplified the negative impact of discriminatory experiences on delinquent behaviors whereas high Western cultural orientation protected them against that impact. The significance of both ethnic and mainstream cultural orientations for understanding ethnic minority adolescents' adjustment and improving their adjustment outcomes is discussed. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)