Cultural Meanings of Resource Management for Mexican–Americans

Study’s purpose was to investigate distal and proximal contextual influences affecting resource decisions of Latinos of Mexican origin living in the US. Deacon and Firebaugh’s (1988) family resource management theory guided the study. Documentation status and transnationalism were primary distal influences. Primary proximal influences included strength and depth of relationship currency, family remittances to Mexico, present-time orientation, orientation to resource access, and a holistic well-being definition. Five couple work/financial patterns existed; the most prominent was where husbands worked and wives managed the money. Spousal interdependence in discussing and in making final financial decisions created resiliency in their new, challenging environment. Education for this audience needs to address literacy level, language, documentation status, relevancy and flexibility in curriculum content and educational timing.