Predicting Intergenerational Cultural Conflict in Ecuadorian Immigrant Families Based on Acculturation Gaps, Language Brokering, Perceived Discrimination, Parenting Styles, and Family Communication Patterns

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to predict intergenerational cultural conflict in Ecuadorian immigrant families based on parent–adolescent acculturation gaps, adolescent language-brokering burden, perceived discrimination, parenting styles, and family communication patterns.

Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional correlational study included 312 Ecuadorian immigrant parent–adolescent dyads residing in the New York metropolitan area. Participants were recruited through schools, community centers, cultural associations, religious organizations, and immigrant-support programs. Data were collected using the Intergenerational Conflict Inventory, Vancouver Index of Acculturation, Adolescent Language Brokering Questionnaire, Everyday Discrimination Scale, Parental Authority Questionnaire, Revised Family Communication Patterns Questionnaire, and a demographic form. Parent and adolescent questionnaires were completed separately in Spanish or English. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, hierarchical multiple regression, and moderation analysis in SPSS version 29.

Findings: The final hierarchical regression model significantly predicted intergenerational cultural conflict and explained 70.9% of its variance, F(17, 294) = 42.13, p < .001. Heritage-culture acculturation gaps, mainstream-culture acculturation gaps, language-brokering burden, perceived discrimination, authoritarian parenting, permissive parenting, and conformity orientation significantly predicted greater conflict. Authoritative parenting and conversation orientation significantly predicted lower conflict. Conversation orientation was the strongest protective predictor, whereas the heritage-culture acculturation gap was the strongest positive predictor. Conversation orientation significantly weakened the association between acculturation gaps and conflict, while authoritarian parenting significantly strengthened the relationship between perceived discrimination and conflict. Interactions involving adolescent birthplace and gender were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Intergenerational cultural conflict in Ecuadorian immigrant families is shaped by the combined effects of cultural distance, adolescent translation responsibilities, discriminatory experiences, parenting practices, and communication processes. Open family communication and authoritative parenting may protect families from conflict, whereas rigid parental control, conformity-oriented communication, and burdensome language brokering may increase vulnerability. Culturally responsive family interventions should therefore emphasize dialogue, flexible parental authority, recognition of adolescents’ bicultural experiences, and reduced dependence on children for complex interpretation responsibilities.