The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation and aspects of family functioning (cohesion and adaptability) and family leisure involvement from Mexican-American parent, youth, and family perspectives. Acculturation of parents, youth, and families was measured using the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BAS). Family leisure involvement was measured using the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP). Aspects of family functioning were measured using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES II). Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, generation, family size, income, and education were also used to help predict levels of acculturation for family perspectives. The sample was obtained from communities in Texas and Utah and consisted of 74 Mexican-American families, including a parent and child from each family. Differences were found in measures of family leisure involvement and family functioning between Mexican-Americans and normative samples of Anglo-Americans. Findings suggest that family leisure involvement, aspects of family functioning, and sociodemographic variables helped to predict parent, youth, and family perspectives of acculturation. The independent and sociodemographic variables also helped to discriminate levels of acculturation for parents, youth, and families. Recommendations are given for commercial and community recreation programs targeting Mexican-American families, in addition to implication for further research.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families with an adolescent in mental health treatment. The sample (N=181) was obtained by sampling parents and adolescents enrolled in mental health treatment at Heritage Schools. Of the 181 participants, 52 cases consisted of matched parent and youth responses, 24 cases consisted of just parent responses, and 53 cases consisted of just adolescent responses. It was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families with youth in mental health treatment, and that when comparing this sample to a sample of normative families there would be differences between their family functioning and family leisure involvement. Findings indicated significant differences across all family functioning variables and some differences in family leisure involvement variables between the two samples. Findings also indicated significant positive relationships between family leisure and family functioning variables from the parent and youth perspectives in the sample of families with youth in mental health treatment. Recommendations for further research and implications for practitioners are discussed.