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The neighborhood, whether reestablished in the city or in a new town, at its best avoids not only racial and income segregation, but also age segregation. Since the three-generation family within a single dwelling no longer is likely, the neighborhood should be restored to accommodate all generations. This study explores how the concept of neighborhood can be reestablished and how it can become a three-generation neighborhood. (Author/MLF)

This report presents the effect of immigration on family cohesion, specifically the relationship between parents and children. It draws on 5 years of fieldwork in one New York City immigrant community to describe how the generation gap separating immigrant adolescents from their parents, made wiser by the immigration process, leads these children to rely on violent peer groups for protection. The social development of 25 first and second generation immigrant adolescents, beginning in 7th grade is documented. Each year, observations were performed in the community and the middle school, students and parents were interviewed, and interviews in the Dominican Republic, the country of origin for most participants, were conducted. Results show that many of the parents were unprepared to guide their children through the dangers of their adopted U.S. neighborhoods, and the children therefore relied on neighborhood peers for socialization and protection. For many immigrant adolescents, adoption of violent behavior was a solution to physical threats they faced. Once they left their neighborhoods or the threats to safety disappeared, they generally ended their involvement with violent peers. (Contains 38 references.) (SM)

Acculturation differences associated with relationship problems were studied with Chinese American immigrant parents and their children. Subjects were 20 Chinese Americans aged 9 to 16 years attending a Chinese church in a city in the mid-southern United States. Most were second generation Chinese Americans. They completed a questionnaire about acculturation modified from one completed by Korean Americans in another study. Parental comments about relationship problems were gathered informally. Over 90% of the young respondents indicated that they were happy living in the United States, that their parents loved them, and that they were happy with school life. Between 70 and 90% wished that their parents spoke English well, and most wished that their parents understood more about them and their feelings. Only 15% wanted to know more about China and its culture, and about 15% wished they were not Chinese. Parents expressed concerns that they did not understand the educational system adequately. They also voiced concerns that their children did not respect them, did not like to converse with them, and did not know about Chinese culture and values. Results demonstrate some acculturation problems. The most extreme negative opinions about culture and ethnic identity were voiced by the most recent immigrants. The acculturation gap appears to be a factor in the parent-child relationship that could have a great impact on the children's adjustment at school. The study questionnaire is attached. (Contains nine references.) (SLD)

This study explores the interaction between acculturation and socioeconomic status across generations of Latino families with adolescent children. Also studied are the implications for the adolescent's involvement in delinquent behavior, both violent and nonviolent. Researchers hypothesized that an elevated level of delinquency in Latino adolescents is in part affected by the different levels of acculturation between the adolescent and his or her parents. Differences between the scores on an acculturation scale for the head of the household and the adolescent are compared to the adolescent's self-reported involvement in delinquent behavior described on a scale developed for the study. A sample of 80 Latino families was used, controlling for socioeconomic status, gender, age, and nation of origin. Results show no significant correlation between the level of delinquency and cultural disparity across generations. Males did tend to score significantly higher on the delinquency scale than females did, but this finding was expected. Implications for prevention of delinquent behavior are discussed, and suggestions are provided for further research. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/SLD)

This paper specifically focuses on the balance between local dialect and the language standard through the examination of generational markers reflecting upheaval and social transformation, as presented from a case study from Denmark, conducted over 8 years in three field trips. Generation is redefined as experiencing specific socio-historical events at similar life-stages, there by gaining insight into the correlation of generational markers and dialect change. It is further demonstrated that the vacillation between standardization and local dialect innovations is directly correlated to the effect of socio-historical events on a generation of the residents, who not only defined the dialect, but also transformed the internal social constructs of the community. As the younger residents become more active in the social networks, their life experiences and attitudes become reflected in the evolving dialect. Evidence was found for attitude changes focused on a contrastive means for self-identification and on a local versus regional identity. Innovative forms and long-standing isoglosses were found to have faded as the single industry economy waned due to European Union quotas and resulting social changes. Linguistic changes found suggest initial rapid development and more recent standardization of the dialect that emerged some 80 years ago. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/NAV)

An evaluation determined the impact on participants of pilot intergenerational programs in the Central Greene, Quaker Valley, and Titusville school districts in western Pennsylvania. It examined how participation in project activities changed students' attitudes about older adults and aging. A four-part questionnaire consisted of the following: questions to gather demographic information; a semantic differential scale of items that used bipolar adjectives that reflected a continuum between extremes; an attitude endorsement scale that stressed social, physical, and behavioral factors associated with aging; and a mixture of likert-type free-format, and open-ended questions to gather outcome information. Responses were received from 81 elementary, junior high, and high school students who completed both and initial survey and one following participation in intergenerational activities. Also, more limited information about how the project affected the older adult participants was gathered through a survey of 23 women and 4 men. The project had the following effects: it made a significant and positive change in the way they perceived older adults; it improved significantly junior and senior high school students' enjoyment of time spent with older adults; and it increased students' perception of what age is "old." Changes in student attitudes appeared to result from the project and not from previous relationships with older adults. Over the course of the project, students' perceptions of older persons' wisdom became a much better predictor of how much the students enjoyed being with the older adults. Following participation in intergenerational activities, students rated older adults as more active, stronger, friendlier, and less boring than they did prior to the activities. As a result of their participation in the project the elders gained improved images of schools and students. They also voiced more hope for the future. (Appendixes include 14 tables and questionnaires.) (YLB)

Over the last 15 years researchers have taken an increased interest in studying the large pool of recent Korean immigrants. This analysis concentrates on finding how first generation Korean Americans relate and interact with their second generation counterparts. Using studies on the adjustment of first generation Korean immigrants and the levels of their success, the dynamics of Korean family living in America are analyzed. A main objective is to illustrate and highlight the sources of conflict between parent and child. First generation Korean immigrants, struggling to overcome language barriers and cultural differences, often overlook the needs of their second generation children, who are also trying to adjust. Second generation Korean Americans strive to adapt in order to meet the demands of mainstream American society. Coupled with the pressure of their beckoning ethnicity, the children of first generation Korean Americans are forced to merge two vastly different cultures. Korean culture is strongly influenced by Confucianism and its traditional values and family structure. Economic pressures on women to work, racism and prejudice, and the conflicts children observe between traditional values and those of the dominant society contribute to the difficulties of balancing the two cultures. (Contains 35 references.) (Author/SLD)

Two samples of entering college freshmen (at the University of Maryland, College Park) comprising two different generational cohorts (1976 cohort, n=1491; 1994 cohort, n=2516) were compared to determine the similarities and differences to attitudinal and behavioral items on a survey administered at a summer orientation program. The data were analyzed by gender and cohort year using chi-square and MANOVA. Results indicated gender differences in most items for both cohorts. Likert-type items were analyzed by gender and cohort and a significant cohort effect and gender effect were found, indicating a need to consider how current programs and services are prepared to meet the needs of current entering students and that gender differences be taken into consideration. (Author)

Addresses the sharing of traditions, beliefs, and customs between grandparents and grandchildren. Results indicate that extent of shared activities, attitudes toward grandparents, and perceptions of cultural sharing are significantly related. Highlights the importance of cultural sharing to perceptions of grandchild-grandparent relationships. (Contains 34 references, 3 tables, and an appendix.) (Author/GCP)

A developmental model is proposed and incorporated with exchange theory to further explain the position of the second generation in considering dependency needs of both the first and third generations. What literature exists deals primarily with dependency needs of children or at best, attitudes toward older people. Questions are raised and some answers suggested to encourage research focused on behavioral responses to the increasing dependency needs of older persons, therefore, offering further assistance to counselors and families. (Author)

This special project, manned by volunteers, aimed at seeking out and serving "homebound elderly" among whom 22 desired such intervention. College students, middle-aged and older adults were involved in conducting weekly visits. Although no special effort was made to recruit young volunteers for this project, it is suggested that such assignments can be made successfully. Most of 49 referrals were cited as homebound because of physical disabilities, and fewer than half lived alone. Assumptions about elderly homebound who live alone, are lonely, and who, therefore, should be sought out in a general way, are not warranted. Instead, agencies are encouraged to participate in organized surveys of their local communities in order to differentiate the various needs of older persons. The call to assist the elderly has widened the generation gap between young and old people. To help close this gap, the authors suggest interagency, interorganizational community models that are designed to direct teenage and college youth into helping roles that include home visiting, escort service and shopping for older adults. Social workers of various specialties can help fashion such cooperative models. (Author/SE)

This paper discusses individual and interfamilial processes affecting Cuban immigrant families with adolescent children. Data utilized include the results of various studies on psychological and behavioral changes related to acculturation. It is held that rate of acculturation is a function of many variables, including age, sex, and length of exposure to the host culture. Clinical variables, such as intergenerational conflict in Cuban families, are also discussed as they affect the acculturation of adolescent children. It is speculated that in families in which adolescent males exhibit an accelerated rate of acculturation, the adolescents may be presenting an acting out psychological profile. (Author/GC)

Although anecdotal material suggests that parenting changes people, experimental tests in this area are lacking. Undergraduates (N=139) and their same-sex parents read one of eight summaries of parent-child interactions which varied in terms of success and in terms of the sex of the story character. Descriptions were reduced to three parent factors (Generous, Lost, and Masculine) and four child factors (Troubled, Responsible, Selfish, and Warm). The older generation used the factor, "Lost," less often than their children in describing the story parent; "Lost" was used more often to describe a mother than a father. The story child was described as more troubled, more responsible, less selfish, and less warm by the older generation than by their own children. Although the results were unclear as to whether generational differences were due to age, parenting, or cohort group differences, the data suggest that individuals over age 35 had a less conventional view of parents and children. The older generation showed signs of greater tolerance and more capacity for ambiguity. (NRB)

This scholarly paper assesses biases due to measurement errors in structural equation models of the intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic status by estimating unobserved variable models with data from the remeasurement program of the 1973 Occupational Changes in Generation-II survey. It is noted that reports of social background and achievement variables by nonblack males are subject to strictly random errors, while reports of black males appear subject to significant nonrandom errors. When measurement errors are ignored for nonblacks, occupational returns to schooling are underestimated by about 15%, the effects of some background variables are underestimated by as much as 22%, and variation in socioeconomic achievements not attributable to education or social origins by as much as 27%. Biases appear to be substantially greater for nonblacks. Consequently ignoring measurement error exaggerates racial differences in returns to schooling and occupational inequality not attributable to social origins. (Author/AM)

Information about the types of characteristics seen by parents and adolescents in similar fashion and those seen differently may result in better prediction of teenage behavior. To compare the perceptions of adolescents and adults on 20 personality characteristics, rating tables originally constructed by Hess and Goldblatt (1957) were given to 35 Hispanic and Anglo high school students, who took complementary forms home for their parents to complete. Results were analyzed for possible differences by age, sex, ethnicity, and family size. The differences between parent and adolescent views were much less extreme than the differences originally found by Hess and Goldblatt. No significant differences for age, sex, ethnicity, or family size were found. The findings indicate that parents and adolescents expect to be viewed much differently by the other group than they actually are viewed. (Author/JAC)

Two articles are presented in this research bulletin. The first, entitled "Acculturation in Puerto Rican Families," assesses the degree of acculturation of 100 sets of married children of 100 Puerto Rican families living in New York City. Attitudes toward language, identity, and values are used as criteria. The specific values the study investigates are: (1) attitudes toward the family; (2) the presence or absence of a fatalistic outlook; (3) attitudinal preferences for Puerto Rican ways; (4) response to the "modernity" of American society; (5) trust of people outside the Puerto Rican group. The study concludes that the married children are much closer to mainland values and ideas than their parents are, but notes that none of the 100 chose an entirely American identity, indicating that, despite generational differences, they have still retained Puerto Rican culture as part of their identity. The second article, entitled "Kinship Networks and the Settlement Process: Dominican and Colombian Immigrants in New York City," uses recent data from a survey of Dominican and Colombian immigrants in New York City to examine the relationship between kinship networks and the migration and settlement process. The data show that chain migration characterizes these flows, inasmuch as these particular migrants are well linked into a migration system in which some relatives and friends precede them, some come with them, and still others subsequently join then in New York. Relatives present at the time of arrival provide multiple forms of assistance, particularly with accommodation and employment searches. In addition to receiving assistance during their settlement the migrants, particularly male migrants, continue to be an important link to relatives in the home country: they provide help for relatives who wish to migrate to New York and regularly send remittances to relatives in the home country. Furthermore, analysis of the data clearly demonstrates that familial aid received at the time of first arrival in the United States does have an impact on the subsequent course of events in the life-cycle of the immigrant. When the aid is more extensive, a tendency to remain within the portective confines of the immigrant community results, even when the different backgrounds among the migrants are taken into account. (RDN)