Cultural and acculturation differences in trajectories of home environment inventory scores for Latino children and families

This study examines the influence of social context on the home environment for children aged 0 to 14 years, testing for differences between Cubans (n = 47), Mexicans (n = 240), Mexican Americans (n = 415), and Puerto Ricans (n = 162). Hierarchical linear models showed significant cultural and acculturation effects on the trajectories of cognitive stimulation and emotional support in the home environment. The home environment of families in which the mother reported more U.S. ancestry showed significant declines in cognitive stimulation, whereas families in which the mother was more likely to use Spanish during the study interview showed significant increases in cognitive stimulation as the child aged. In contrast, no significant acculturation effects were found for the trajectories of emotional support in the home.