Exploring the Links Between Neighborhood Characteristics, Parental Monitoring, and Deviance Among Black and Latinx Adolescents in a New Destination Context

Abstract

This study examined the moderating role of parental monitoring in the relation between neighborhood structural characteristics, social processes, and Black and Latinx youth's deviant behavior in new destination neighborhoods, areas with limited historical immigrant migration, and few co-ethnic immigrants reside. The study included 120 self-identified Black (N = 55) and Latinx (N = 65) youths and 120 corresponding caregivers. Path analysis and multi-group analysis were conducted to test the hypothesized relations. The results suggested that parental monitoring moderated the relation between adolescent neighborhood racial-ethnic concentration and adolescent deviant behavior (β = −0.21, p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in the relation between Black and Latinx youth's structural and perceived neighborhood characteristics, parental monitoring, and deviant behavior. Notably, parental monitoring had a stronger link to reducing Black youth's deviant behavior compared to Latinx youth. The findings provide a stepping stone for understanding Black and Latinx youth's development and the role of parenting and neighborhood social processes in new destination neighborhoods.