International Journal of Education and Social Science

Latinx youth and their families in the U.S. face systemic stressors such as acculturative strain, discrimination, and economic hardship, which can negatively impact family dynamics. The relevant literature indicates that disruptions in parenting can lead to increased externalizing behaviors in adolescents, which are often heightened by family-related stressors, despite being common during this developmental stage. Latinx families have cultural resources, such as heritage-language retention, that can help protect against these stresses. However, socioeconomic strain can weaken family cohesion and exacerbate externalizing behaviors. Chronic stress can impair emotional regulation and increase the likelihood of these behaviors, even in those without a biological predisposition. This study explored the relationship between coping strategies, family stress, and externalizing behaviors, focusing on the influence of socioeconomic strain and Spanish-language retention. Findings showed that female adolescents reported higher family stress, which was linked to reduced engagement in coping. After excluding outliers, increased secondary control coping correlated with fewer rule-breaking behaviors. In summary, the study highlights how stress impacts externalizing behaviors through less effective coping strategies among Latinx adolescents from immigrant families.