The Role of Family Interaction in New Immigrant Latinos? Civic Engagement.

Civic engagement -- used as an umbrella term for behaviors such as political participation, community action, feelings such as collective efficacy, and feelings and behaving as part of a community -- can impact politics, health outcomes, support for new policies, and the like. Research indicates that the communication infrastructure and specifically, the strength of the storytelling network, influences civic engagement outcomes (Ball-Rokeach, et al., 2000; Ball-Rokeach, et al., 2001; Kim, 2003; Kim & Ball-Rokeach, 2004; Kim & Ball-Rokeach, 2006a; 2006b). Recent community building initiatives place the impetus of community change and civic engagement on the family unit (Doherty & Carroll, 2002; Erickson & Louv, 2002; Rojano, 2004). This paper places the family unit within the storytelling network and explores how family interaction is related to civic engagement. A telephone survey of 739 new immigrant Latinos in Los Angeles was used to test the relationship of family interaction on civic engagement. Regression analyses, controlling for socio-demographic factors, were used. Regression analyses, controlling for socio-demographic factors, were used. Results indicate that family interaction leads to higher levels of community belonging and collective efficacy and encourages more integration into the neighborhood storytelling network. Results also indicate gendered differences in these findings. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]