Exploring Family Dynamics in Mexican American Families: A Scoping Review on Migration and the Acculturation Journey in Mexican American and Mexican Canadian Contexts

This scoping review focuses on investigating the impacts of migration on parent-child dynamics within Mexican American immigrant families. As the largest immigrant population in the United States, Mexican American families face unique challenges during the process of settlement. Through the synthesis of existing research from Northwestern, South American, and Central American literature, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of migration's implications on family dynamics through concepts of language brokering, cultural brokering, and role reversal. The primary objectives of this scoping review are twofold: first, to describe the family dynamics of Mexican American families both before and after migration; and second, to evaluate the existing studies that have explored the experiences of Mexican American children as language brokers. The study includes a limited section on Mexican Canadian families, to understand whether there are any relevant implications applicable. The findings can inform educators, policymakers, and researchers working with immigrant populations with relevant resources to better support the well-being and successful integration of Mexican American families in the United States. Keywords: Mexican-American/Canadian, family dynamic, role reversal, cultural brokering, language brokering, migration patterns, acculturation, gender dynamics, familismo, gender roles