UC Davis

All youth have the capacity to thrive during adolescence by actively seeking internal and external resources to navigate the core developmental tasks characterizing this pivotal transition. Positive Youth Development (PYD) theories emphasize the role of adolescents’ self-regulation and relational context in supporting this process, leading researchers to investigate which person-by-environment interactions confer optimal benefits. However, few empirical studies have explored PYD trajectories among ethnic/racial minority samples, including Latinx youth of Mexican-origin, leaving gaps in our understanding of specific individual, familial, and sociocultural factors enabling youth of color to flourish. Furthermore, research integrating cultural influences and neurobiological development within PYD trajectories in youth exposed to adversity are scarce. This dissertation aimed to address these gaps by investigating: (1) whether the Five Cs model of PYD accurately reflects PYD in Latinx youth, (2) the extent to which cultural orientation promotes Latinx PYD, (3) whether PYD factors moderate the impact of family stress on adolescent stress physiology, and (4) the moderating role of adolescent demographics within these associations. Study 1 provides robust evidence supporting the Five Cs model of PYD in Latinx youth, highlighting ethnic pride and cultural values as potent promoters of PYD for Mexican-origin youth. Study 2 reveals differential associations between family stress exposure and adrenocortical regulation based on adolescent gender and endorsement of the Five Cs, suggesting a potentially stronger biological link between the Five Cs and adrenocortical functioning in adolescent girls compared to boys. Taken together, these studies offer a culturally-sensitive and neurobiologically-informed understanding of PYD pathways and resilience processes unfolding in the lives of Mexican-origin youth, underscoring the importance of integrating across bioecological and relational systems when conducting PYD research.