Examines patterns of communication with families and peers among adolescents from different ethnic backgrounds. The study sample consisted of nearly 400 immigrant or first-generation American adolescents from a variety of backgrounds, including Mexican, Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese, and European. Study participants were asked to rate the degree to which they perceived a set of family values to be held by themselves as well as their parents and grandparents, to characterize expressions of individuality and connectedness with parents and friends, and to describe their comfort level discussing topics ranging from academic performance to alcohol and drugs. Key findings were that: (1) adolescents from Chinese, Filipino, Mexican, and Vietnamese families saw themselves and their parents as depending on support and guidance from family members; (2) adolescents? patterns of communication generally were more formal with fathers than with mothers across all groups; (3) Filipino, Mexican, and European American students tended to be more comfortable than were Chinese and Vietnamese students discussing dating and marriage with their mothers; and (4) these same 3 groups of students also were comfortable discussing these topics with their siblings and friends. Understanding differences in communication patterns will suggest what resources adolescents may require on the road to maturity.
