Cultural Values, Acculturation, and Parental Involvement as Predictors of Latino Youth Engagement in Extracurricular Activities

Abstract

Most research indicates that extracurricular activities are an important part of children's development with the potential to enhance children's academic achievement, physical growth, and social skills. Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States, and although most Latino children achieve academic success, they are the ethnic group most at risk for school drop-out. Previous research indicated that even when socioeconomic status was controlled, Latino children engaged in fewer extracurricular activities than their white peers. This study examined the extent to which cultural values emphasized in the Latino population, such as collectivism, personalismo, simpatía, and religiosity influenced the extracurricular activities of Latino children. It found that certain values are correlated with corresponding activities, but education of the primary caregiver and acculturation were the strongest predictors of participation in extracurricular activities.