Moral identity and acculturation process among Chinese Canadians: Three cultural comparisons

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

This study explored Chinese Canadians’ moral identities and extended the investigation of the socio-cultural impact on moral identity. The main sample consisted of 131 Chinese Canadians. Approximately equal numbers of participants from two reference groups, European Canadians and Chinese in China, were also recruited. All participants were presented a moral identity questionnaire. It was found that Chinese Canadians’ self-selected moral values were more similar to European Canadians than to Chinese in China. Unexpectedly, the Chinese Canadians scored significantly lower in moral identity of context of community than the two reference groups. In addition, mainstream acculturation positively predicted Chinese Canadians’ moral identities after controlling for length of residency in Canada and immigration status. However, age of arrival played a role in acculturation processes and moral identity in the context of school. These findings suggest the notion of acculturation, with individuals’ moral identities being acculturated to the norms of mainstream Canadian culture.