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Updated: May 12, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Testing an intergenerational cascade model of adolescent family and individual functioning, young adult Romantic
Gregory M Fosco1, Mark J Van Ryzin2, Carolyn A Albright1
1Human Development and Family Studies, https://ror.org/04p491231Pennsylvania State University, USA.
Abstract:
This study evaluated whether young adult romantic relationship quality is an intergenerational mechanism linking Generation 1-2 (G1-G2) family climate and G2 social problem-solving skills during adolescence to G2-G3 parenting and family level-functioning and ultimately G3 child maladjustment and social-emotional competence. Our sample included 396 families with a parent (Mage = 28.29; 94% White) from a longitudinal study starting when they were in 6th grade. Participants completed annual assessments through high school, three assessments in young adulthood, and surveys after becoming parents. Two intergenerational pathways emerged: Positive G1-G2 family climates in adolescence predicted less young adult relationship violence; in turn, violence was associated with lower G2-G3 harsh discipline, abusive parenting, and family conflict. Of these, harsh discipline and abusive parenting were associated with G3 children's adjustment. In addition, G2 social problem-solving skills in adolescence were associated with stronger couple problem-solving skills in young adulthood and with better G2-G3 family routines; in turn, G2-G3 family routines were associated with G3 child social-emotional competence. Finally, moderation effects were observed in which youth who received the PROSPER interventions exhibited associations between adolescent social problem-solving skills and young adult couple problem-solving and G2-G3 parental warmth and (lower) lax discipline.
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