Correlates of Acculturation Strategies: Personality, Coping, and Outcome

Abstract

This contribution reviews correlates of Berry’s acculturation strategies. The aim was to offer a differentiated overview of correlates that may come into play during different phases of the acculturation process, as antecedents, as concurrent correlates, and as outcome variables. Building on a literature search and previous review papers, k = 61 independent publications ( N = 40,505) were identified. Correlates of acculturation strategies were grouped into 35 variables pertaining to diverse domains, and mixed-effects models were estimated to derive the mean magnitude of the relation. The correlates comprised basic dimensions of personality belonging to the giant three, big five, alternative five, and multicultural personality taxonomies. Further, more specific traits were investigated, including field dependence and dogmatism. The next group comprised the experience of stress and negative emotions as well as different coping styles. Finally, a selection of psychological and health-related correlates as well as a selection of sociocultural adjustment variables were investigated. Results indicate that the acculturation strategies possess differential patterns of relations, thereby supporting a multi-dimensional acculturation model. Generally, integration was characterized by a pattern of correlates that facilitate interacting with other people, coping successfully with stress, and beneficial outcome variables. Marginalization revealed an opposite pattern of relationships in many cases. Assimilation and separation fell in between the other acculturation strategies.