(PS1-B49) Machismo, Caballerismo, and Familismo: Interactive and Main Effects on Parental Rejection of LGB Youth

Previous research has documented higher rates of parental rejection of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth in ethnic minority families. Reasons for this difference may include increased minority stress, as well as culturally specific values. The present study examined three cultural values often documented in Hispanic families: machismo, caballerismo, and familismo. Traditional machismo refers to traditional beliefs about gender roles, particularly the importance of masculinity for men; caballerismo also refers to beliefs about gender roles, but it highlights chivalry for men over hypermasculinity. Familismo refers to strong identification with and prioritization of the family unit. Further research is needed to better understand how these three cultural values may relate to parental rejection. The present study sought examine to independent and interactive effects of these variables on parental rejection of LGB youth.

Data were obtained from parents (N = 77; 33.8% Hispanic, 41.6% Black, 41.6% White) who knew of their child’s LGB identity. Parents completed the Perceived Parental Reactions Scale (M = 58.44; SD = 25.13), the Familismo Scale (M = 6.24, SD = 1.28) and the Machismo and Caballerismo Scales (Machismo M = 20.86, SD = 9.82; Caballerismo M = 57.67, SD = 9.15).

Higher levels of traditional machismo were correlated with higher parental rejection (r = .463, p < .001). There were not significant relationships between either caballerismo or familismo and parental rejection. Caballerismo and familismo were related to one another (r = .479, p < .001), but not to traditional machismo. Caballerismo moderated the relationship between traditional machismo and parental rejection (B_interaction = -.07, SE B = .03, p = .006), such that the effect of machismo on parental rejection was relatively weaker when caballerismo was one SD above mean level. Familismo also moderated the relationship between traditional machismo and parental rejection (B_interaction = -.57, SE B = .17, p = .001), such that there was not a significant relationship between traditional machismo and parental rejection when familismo was one SD above mean level (B_machismo = .52, SE B = .31, p = .092).

While the literature highlights negative aspects of traditional machismo, many Hispanic men view machismo as neutral or positive. Better understanding the role of machismo in parental rejection allows for integration of other cultural values when working with families of LGB youth rather than avoidance of these topics in a clinical context.