Acculturation, identity and adaptation in dual heritage adolescents

Abstract

The research adopts an acculturation framework to examine identity, values, self-perceptions, and adaptation in dual heritage and single heritage native-born New Zealand youth. Maori, Pakeha (New Zealand European) and dual heritage (Maori–Pakeha) students completed questionnaires that included measures of: national and ethnic identity; family values concerning parental obligations and children's rights; perceived discrimination; self-perceptions of mastery and esteem; and psychological (life satisfaction and psychological symptoms) and social (school adjustment and behavioral problems) adaptation. One-way ANOVAs revealed, as predicted, Maori had stronger ethnic and national identity, engaged in more ethnic exploration, reported more discrimination, endorsed greater parental responsibility and fewer children's rights and experienced more behavioral problems than Pakeha. Maori also reported lower levels of self-esteem. More importantly and in line with predictions arising from an acculturation framework, the measures of identity, values, self-perceptions, and adaptation in the dual heritage group fell between those of Maori and Pakeha.