Familism among Latino/a adolescents: Evidence from time-use data

Objective This study examined differences in time with family among Latino/a, White, and Black youth and variation among Latino/a youth by gender and immigrant household status. Background Familismo and differences in socio-structural characteristics suggest that Latino/a youth will spend more time with family than White and Black peers. Gender socialization norms, especially marianismo, could also promote family time for Latina girls. Finally, theories of immigrant incorporation suggest that Latino/a family time will be highest in immigrant households. Method This study used the nationally representative American Time Use Survey (2003-2019) to analyze household family contact patterns among Latino/a, White, and Black youth (ages 15-18; n = 9501). The study further examined differences by gender and, among Latinos/as, by immigrant household status. Results Latino/a youth spent more time with siblings than White and Black peers due to a higher number of siblings in the household. Latina girls spent substantially more unadjusted and adjusted time with parents and siblings than White and Black girls and Latino boys. There was little variation in family time patterns among Latinos/as by gender-by-immigrant household status. Conclusion Family contact patterns suggest that both familismo and marianismo are salient in the lives of Latino/a youth, which has key implications for these youths' lives and transitions to adulthood.