Variations in Familism in Two Generations of Puerto Ricans

Abstract

The importance individuals give to the family in terms offeelings of loyalty, reciprocity, and solidarity known as familism is one of the most enduring and distinctive characteristics among Hispanics and Puerto Ricans in the United States. Departingfrom prior studies that have examined familistic beliefs across generations, the present study focused on how those beliefs operate within two family-linked generations (parent and child generation) of Puerto Ricans living in New York City. Education appeared to be the strongest variable affecting familistic beliefs within the two family generations. In addition to this, age at arrival in the United States affectedfamilism among those in the parent generation. Findings from this study suggest that processes affecting traditional beliefs among family-related individuals might be different even when they share the same family environment.