Latino-American Youths’ Perception of Neighborhood Quality and Parental Academic Support on Educational Resiliency

This present study examined a sample of 620 Latino students. The participants ranged in age from 13-20 years old. This purpose of this study was to explore neighborhood variables and parentingvariables in relation to Latino adolescents’ academic outcomes. Five hypotheses were examined: (1) Neighborhood structural qualities will be positively and significantly related to youth perceptions of neighborhood qualities, and hence, indirectly related to teacher reports of adolescents’ grades through youth perceptions of neighborhood qualities, (2) Neighborhood structural qualities will be positively and significantly related to youth perceptions of parental involvement (3) Adolescent reports of mothers’ and fathers’ educational attainment levels will be positively and significantly related to youth perceptions of parental involvement, (4) Latino adolescent perceptions of parental involvement will be positively and significantly related to teacher reports of adolescents’ grades, and (5) Neighborhood and parental qualities related to grades will vary based on immigrant status. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression equations indicated that neighborhood structural qualities, measured with census data at the block group were significantly related to Latino youths’ reports of perceived neighborhood qualities. The second hypothesis regarding neighborhood structural qualities and youth perceptions of parental involvement was not supported. However both hypotheses three and four (adolescent reports of mothers’ and fathers’ educational attainment levels will be positively and significantly related to youth perceptions of parental involvement and Latino adolescent perceptions of parental involvement will be positively and significantly related to teacher reports of adolescents’ grades) were both supported by hierarchical multiple regression equations. To test for possible differences between first and second generation Latino adolescents, the analyses were conducted separately for first generation youth and second generation youth. Neighborhood structural qualities were significant and positively related to perceived neighborhood assets. Also, neighborhood assets were significantly and positively related to GPA. Neighborhood structural qualities were significant and positively related to perceived neighborhood assets. Also, neighborhood assets were significantly and positively related to GPA. Implications, findings and limitations of the study are discussed.