Extended family members, such as siblings, cousins and grandparents, are the most influential mentors for Latino emerging adults-challenging traditional mentorship models that typically focus on teachers or community leaders, new research shows.
A study from the University of Michigan found that these adults can simultaneously empower and constrain young people's efforts to create social change.
"Our research reveals that adults play complex, multifaceted roles in these young people's civic development," said Wendy de los Reyes, U-M postdoctoral research fellow in the Combined Program in Education and Psychology at the Marsal Family School of Education.
"It addresses an important gap in understanding how immigrant-origin Latino emerging adults develop the skills and support to create social change in their communities, moving beyond traditional deficit narratives about youth of color."
For de los Reyes and colleagues, these young people occupy a unique position in American society-they often experience racialization. They might feel like "perpetual foreigners," yet they're highly attuned to how political contexts shape their lives and communities.
"Our study contributes new knowledge by being the first to systematically examine both how nonparental adults support and hinder civic development for this population," de los Reyes said.
A qualitative study of 23 immigrant-origin Latino emerging adults, published in the Journal of Adolescent Research, identified five key ways adults positively shaped sociopolitical development: providing emotional support, creating opportunities for critical social analysis, role modeling engagement, facilitating opportunities for action and offering instrumental support.
However, it also documented three ways adults hindered development: discouraging dialogue, restricting action and manipulation.
"What makes this particularly compelling is how these young people navigate what we call 'hyphenated multinational identities,'" de los Reyes said. "They must balance their family's cultural values with their own social justice commitments."
Some participants in the study said that family members who had experienced political instability in Latin America were skeptical of their activism in the U.S. This wasn't necessarily due to opposition to justice, but rather because their past experiences made them wary of political change.
Religious contexts also proved surprisingly complex, the researchers say. While some religious family members oppose LGBTQ+ rights, others drew upon Liberation Theology traditions to champion immigration and economic justice. This nuanced reality challenges simple narratives often held about Latino families and their political views.
"The current discussions around immigration and youth activism make this research timely," de los Reyes said. "Understanding how to better support emerging civic leaders from marginalized communities can inform efforts to strengthen democratic participation.
"Additionally, this work adds to traditional mentorship models by showing the complex role that family members-particularly extended family-play as mentors, which has been largely overlooked in previous research focused primarily on nonfamilial adults."
Understanding that civic engagement links to family relationships and cultural contexts is important, say de los Reyes and colleagues. Extended family members often play a significant role in guiding young people's civic development, challenging the notion that teachers or community leaders are the sole influences. This demonstrates that intergenerational dialogue matters, even in the face of disagreement, the researchers say.
These findings suggest that policies supporting youth civic engagement should consider family and cultural contexts, rather than relying on uniform methods. De los Reyes and colleagues say that policymakers should fund programs that train mentors to facilitate conversations about social issues and support efforts that promote intergenerational dialogue within families. Additionally, training for adults working with youth is essential to understand how their roles impact civic development.
Researchers want these young people to know that their position, as someone living between cultures-"hyphenated multinational identity"-gives them a unique insight into understanding social issues that are incredibly valuable.
"It's common to feel tension between honoring their family's experiences and values while also advocating for change," de los Reyes said. "When family members resist their activism, their skepticism often stems from their own experiences with political instability or oppression, rooted in love and protection rather than indifference to justice. These young adults don't have to choose between family and their own values. Seek support from mentors who validate your concerns and create robust spaces for dialogue."
