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Family Obligation & Assistance among Adolescents from Immigrant Families

A lecture by UCLA professors Andrew J. Fuligni and Eva Telzer. Hosted by the UCLA Migration Studies Group.

Friday, February 05, 2010
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Moore Hall 3340
Los Angeles, CA United States

The settlement of the foreign born to a new country often is a collective process that involves the participation of multiple family members. Adolescents play an active role in the adaptation of many immigrant families because of both cultural traditions and situational imperatives. In this talk, we present a program of research that has focused on nature and the developmental implications of family obligation and assistance among adolescents from Latin American, Asian, and European backgrounds.
Using data from longitudinal studies involving questionnaires, qualitative interviews, daily diary checklists, biomarkers of health, and neuroimaging, we highlight how family obligation and assistance (a) are strong among immigrant adolescents and remain strong across several generations, (b) create both developmental opportunities and challenges for adolescents, and (c) provide adolescents with a sense of meaning and purpose as they confront the difficulties of adapting to a new and different society.

Cost: Free and open to the public