Investigating the Trajectory of Mexican-Origin Youth's Materialistic Values Across Adolescence and Prospective Associations With Life Satisfaction in Early Adulthood: The Role of Familism, Demographic Factors, and Parent Characteristics

Using data from a 14-year longitudinal study of 674 Mexican-origin youth, the present study examined the development of materialistic values (MV) across adolescence (ages 10-16), correlates of the adolescent MV trajectory, and prospective associations between the MV trajectory and life satisfaction in early adulthood (ages 17-23). Latent growth curve analyses showed that MV decreased, on average, from early to late adolescence. Youth raised in families with higher household income, higher maternal and paternal education, and lower maternal and paternal MV tended to be less materialistic; higher maternal education was associated with smaller decreases in MV from age 10 to 16. A strong association of greater decreases in MV across adolescence was found with higher initial life satisfaction at age 17, but not with changes in life satisfaction from age 17 to 23. Findings from this study provide insights into the development of MV among Mexican-origin youth.