Acculturation Orientations Research Articles

Exploring Academic Self-Concepts Depending on Acculturation Profile. Investigation of a Possible Factor for Immigrant Students’ School Success

Academic achievement and academic self-concepts are reciprocally related; hence, investigating academic self-concepts should offer a potential approach for gaining a better understanding of immigrant students’ (lack of) school success. Proposing that immigrant students’ acculturation orientations need to be taken into account, in this study, we empirically investigate whether immigrant students’ general and domain-specific academic self-concept facets differ from those of non-immigrant students depending on their acculturation profile. Based on data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), we find initial indications that immigrant students’ academic self-concept facets are subject to their acculturation profile. The idea that acculturation may influence the known comparisons relevant for self-concept development will be discussed.

Ethnic Identity and Acculturation Orientation of Chinese Yi Villagers in the Context of Social Media

In the information age, the widespread application of social media will impact the ethnic identity and acculturation of ethnic minority individuals. In this study, 522 Yi people from different Yi branches were selected to investigate the relationship between their ethnic identity and acculturation orientation and the role of social media and social support. The results showed that :(1) the acculturation patterns of Yi villagers were mainly integrated, and experienced from separation to integration, then assimilation and marginalization after mixed; (2) The individual differences of acculturation orientation were significant, but the individual differences of ethnic identity were not; (3) Ethnic identity had a positive impact on original acculturation attitude but had no significant effect on mainstream acculturation attitude; (4) Social media had a negative predictive effect on the original acculturation attitude, a positive predictive effect on the mainstream acculturation attitude, and a negative moderating effect on the relationship between ethnic identity and original acculturation attitude; (5) Social support has a positive predictive effect on both acculturation attitudes. Therefore, the government and relevant departments should strengthen social media's popularization in pure Yi areas, enhance social support in mixed areas, and improve education and economic development to improve the acculturation of the Yi villagers effectively.

Majority group perceptions of minority acculturation preferences: The role of perceived threat

Recently, there has been growing focus on the intergroup influences of acculturation preferences, and in particular majority members’ perceptions of how minority members want to acculturate. This paper contributes to this emergent literature by examining the extent to which majority members in the UK perceive that minority members’ preferences for heritage culture maintenance and majority culture adoption are conflicting, and whether this is moderated by perceived threat. One hundred and sixty-three participants who self-reported being white British completed an online survey. Participants were asked about their perceptions of minority acculturation preferences for two target groups living in the UK: Pakistani and German minority groups. Overall, perceived culture maintenance and perceived culture adoption were weakly negatively associated for both groups. Moreover, results confirmed the pre-registered hypotheses, but only for the Pakistani target group. At higher levels of perceived threat, perceived culture maintenance was related to less perceived culture adoption. However, when threat was low, there was no association between perceived heritage culture maintenance and perceived culture adoption. For the German target group, threat did not moderate the relationship between perceived culture maintenance and perceived culture adoption. Findings suggest that depending on levels of perceived threat and the minority group in question, majority members perceiving that minority members maintain their heritage culture has different consequences. Results are discussed in relation to implications for integration, intergroup relations in culturally plural societies, and the need to focus on specific minority groups when studying acculturation processes.

The culturally intelligent way of acculturating: Examining cultural intelligence and acculturation orientations among foreign workers in the Danish context of reception.

In contemporary globalized societies, the number of foreign workers is increasing, resulting in greater intercultural contact and adaptation. Foreign workers apply their cultural intelligence when adapting to and working in multicultural environments, resulting in affiliations with both their cultural heritage and their destination cultural stream. We examined foreign workers' (N=264) intercultural adaptation in the globalized context of Denmark. We found that cultural intelligence was directly and positively linked with adaptable work performance. Furthermore, cultural intelligence was indirectly and negatively associated with sociocultural adaptation difficulties through endorsement of Danish culture. Likewise, perceived negative context of reception was indirectly and positively associated with sociocultural adaptation difficulties through low endorsement of Danish culture. Additionally, perceived stress predicted adaptable work performance, whereas perceived context of reception and sociocultural adaptation difficulties did not. Overall, our results suggest involvement in the destination culture as a culturally intelligent way of applying one's cultural capabilities, suggesting that the perceived context of reception is of great importance for helping foreign workers adapt to their destination cultural environments.

Acculturation Orientations, Professional Interventions and Burnout amongst Ethnic Minority Social Workers Working with Ethnic Minority Clients: A Case of Arab Citizens of Israel

Abstract In this article, we formulate a new bicultural model of social work with ethnic minorities. The suggested model connects acculturation orientations, professional interventions and burnout amongst social workers working with ethnic minority clients. We tested this model in a sample of Arab Israeli social workers (n = 299). The study results confirmed that ethnic minority social workers working with ethnic minority clients used interventions that may be classified as either rooted in the minority or the majority culture. Arab Israeli social workers used slightly more often interventions rooted in the minority than the majority culture; however, the two types of intervention were complementary rather than contradictory. Acculturation orientations of Arab Israeli social workers were connected to their choice of professional interventions. Specifically, a higher preference for separation was associated with more frequent use of professional interventions rooted in the minority culture. In contrast, a higher preference for integration was associated with more frequent use of interventions rooted in both minority and majority cultures. More frequent use of interventions rooted in the majority culture was associated with a lower level of burnout and a higher level of personal accomplishment, whilst more frequent use of interventions rooted in the minority culture was associated with a higher level of burnout. Based on the obtained results, an integrative approach to education and training of social workers and social work practice with ethnic minorities is advocated.

Intergenerational communication satisfaction among Japanese Americans through communication accommodation

ABSTRACT Previous intergenerational communication studies paid only scant attention to acculturation orientation differences in communication between different age groups within a single culture. Many co-cultural groups in the U.S. are encountering emerging acculturation orientation differences between generations. The present study focused on one co-cultural group (Japanese Americans) to gain an understanding of the implications of multiple cultures on the process of intergenerational communication in the U.S. Using Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), this study particularly investigates the relationships between communication satisfaction, acculturation orientation differences, and communication accommodation among Japanese Americans. A total of 218 Japanese Americans (Mage = 43.32, SDage = 17.69) from across 27 different states participated in the study. The main findings include: (a) generations and age groups did not affect acculturation orientation, (b) comfort using Japanese language varied between the new first generation and the traditional second, third, fourth generations, while comfort using English language was not significantly different across generations or age groups, (c) while integration orientation directly affected communication satisfaction when commutating with older Japanese Americans, assimilation orientation indirectly affected communication dissatisfaction through the use of avoidant communicative behaviour.

Assimilation as ‘false consciousness’: Higher education immigrant students’ acculturation beliefs and experiences

Immigrant students hold conflicting perspectives regarding their acculturation into higher education contexts in that they tend to favour integration (recognition of minority ethnic cultures) whilst expecting assimilation (adoption of dominant culture); the former expressed in principle and preference, while the latter is revealed through expectation and experience. The concept of assimilation as ‘false consciousness’ is presented to explain this contrast in acculturation preference and experience. This article reports on an empirical study of eight higher education immigrant students at a New Zealand university. A qualitative methodology used a questionnaire and interviews to explore participants’ understandings and experiences of four concepts: adaptation orientations, behaviour shifts, assimilation as false consciousness, and invisibility in the learning environment. Findings indicate the contradictions between preferences and behaviours as a false consciousness, which leads to an unexamined and uncritical acceptance of assimilation, which in turn reflects in the invisibility of immigrant students in the learning environment. An argument is made for refinement of the ‘integration’ orientation of Berry’s (1997) acculturation and adaptation model. First, to locate education contexts as bicultural within the ‘public domain’ rather than assimilationist; and second, to incorporate subcategories to reflect nuanced positioning within the orientation. This is based on the belief that to break the legacy of assimilation as false consciousness, higher education contexts should intentionally offer critical multicultural and intercultural education learning experiences to support the integration of acculturating immigrant students.

Acculturation orientations and mental health when facing post-migration stress: Differences between unaccompanied and accompanied male Middle Eastern refugee adolescents, first- and second-generation immigrant and native peers in Germany

ObjectiveThis study examined the mental health of Middle Eastern male unaccompanied refugee adolescents in Germany in relation to the mental health of accompanied refugee peers, first- and second-generation immigrant and native peers. In particular, it was investigated whether differences in the mental health of unaccompanied and accompanied refugees and immigrant peers were related to differences in the perception of post-migration stress, and whether this association changed with different acculturation orientations. MethodIn a cross-sectional study, 193 adolescents (Mage = 18.1 years, SD = 1.74 years; nrefugees = 74, nmigrants = 59, nnatives = 60) completed self-report measures of mental health, trauma, acculturation styles, and post-migration stress. ResultsAnalyses of variance revealed that unaccompanied refugees suffered most from internalizing and trauma symptoms, while accompanied peers, first- and second-generation immigrant and native adolescents did not differ significantly in internalizing symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that more integrated adolescents were generally associated with lower internalizing symptoms and integration also buffered against detrimental effects of post-migration stressors. Marginalized adolescents showed more internalizing symptoms, especially in the lights of more post-migration stress. Both assimilation and separation had no direct effects on internalizing symptoms. However, assimilation buffered against detrimental effects of post-migration stress on internalizing symptoms, whereas separation amplified these effects. ConclusionAn involvement in host society and an orientation towards the host culture fosters mental health of acculturating Middle Eastern adolescents in Germany when post-migration stress is perceived, particularly for unaccompanied refugee adolescents. Moreover, additionally maintaining the culture of origin seems to be in general most beneficial.

Loneliness among African international students in Portugal

International students constitute an important sojourner group. This study examined the levels and predictors of loneliness among international students. The sample included 188 Angolan and 210 Cape Verdean college students who attended Portuguese institutions of higher education and a control group of 221 domestic students. The relative strengths of background and acculturation factors in loneliness, as indicators of psychological adaptation, were explored. Results showed that international students reported greater levels of loneliness than native-born students. As expected, results showed that students who reported poorer financial situation, greater perceived discrimination, lower home culture and host culture acculturation orientation scores reported higher loneliness. In addition, using hierarchical regression analyses, current findings suggest that the most significant predictors of loneliness for international students were financial situation, perceived discrimination and orientation to heritage culture. Implications of these results for reducing loneliness of international students are discussed.

Mental health outcomes of ethnic identity and acculturation among British-born children of immigrants from Turkey.

Identity development can be challenging for adolescents, particularly those from immigrant families who are required to make sense of their identity whilst accommodating themselves into different cultures. For second-generation ethnic minority adolescents, these identity formation processes may range from harmony/effectiveness to conflict/stress, having consequences for acculturation and for mental health. Focusing on an underexplored area of research, the present study aimed to examine the relationships between ethnic identity, acculturation orientations, and mental health outcomes among second-generation Turkish adolescents (16-18 years old) in England. Data were collected using a self-report survey (N = 220) and analyzed using structural equation modelling. Results demonstrated that ethnic identity was positively associated with positive mental health and that each ethnic identity component (exploration, resolution, affirmation) was differently associated with life satisfaction, self-esteem, psychological well-being, and depression. Ethnic identity was also positively related to separation and negatively to marginalization whilst no relationships were observed between integration, separation or marginalization, and mental health. Mediation analysis determined that ethnic identity was negatively associated with assimilation and in turn, more positive mental health. Findings demonstrate the complexity of understanding the nature and effects of ethnic identity for second-generation adolescents and have important implications for theory and practice.

How Refugees' Stereotypes Toward Host Society Members Predict Acculturation Orientations: The Role of Perceived Discrimination.

Refugee migration leads to increased diversity in host societies and refugees have to face many stereotyped attitudes in the host society. However, there has been little research on minority group stereotypes toward host society members and how these stereotypes relate to the acculturation-relevant attitudes of refugees in their first phase of acculturation. This study surveyed 783 refugees in Germany who had migrated mostly in the so-called “refugee crisis” between 2015 and 2016. At the time of the survey in 2018, they had been in Germany for an average of 27 months (SD = 15 months). These refugees reported their positive and negative sociability stereotypes toward German host society members, acculturation-related orientations, shared reality values, and perceived discrimination. Results showed that positive sociability stereotypes toward host society members were associated with increased cultural adoption and shared reality. In contrast, negative sociability stereotypes negatively affected cultural adoption and shared reality. However, stereotypes showed no association at all with cultural maintenance. Interactions between sociability stereotypes and discrimination experiences highlighted a disillusion effect, in the sense that discrimination reduced the motivation to adopt the host culture more strongly among refugees who held strongly positive sociability stereotypes. The study extends knowledge on the significance of minority group stereotypes in the context of refugee migration and reveals the maladaptive consequences of discriminatory behavior against refugees by host society members.

Nostalgia and Biculturalism: How Host-Culture Nostalgia Fosters Bicultural Identity Integration

Individuals who have been exposed to and internalized two cultures vary in the degree to which they perceive their cultural identities as compatible (bicultural identity integration; BII). An experiment tested whether nostalgia, an emotion that is prevalent among bicultural individuals, influences BII and does so via acculturation orientation toward the host culture. Participants were originally from Greece, living in other European countries. We instructed them to recall nostalgic or ordinary events either from their host country or home country. We then assessed acculturation orientation and BII. We hypothesized and found that host-nostalgia increased BII both directly and indirectly via a more positive acculturation orientation toward the host culture. The findings extend the literature on factors that facilitate BII, and showcase the potential of nostalgia to improve biculturality.

The Way We See Others in Intercultural Relations: The Role of Stereotypes in the Acculturation Preferences of Spanish and Moroccan-Origin Adolescents.

Although the relationship between stereotypes and acculturation preferences has been previously studied from the majority perspective among adults, the perspective of adolescents and minority groups is understudied. This research analyzed the contribution of four stereotype dimensions (i.e., morality, immorality, sociability, and competence) to the acculturation preferences of Spanish adolescents and adolescents of Moroccan-origin, the moderating role of stereotypes in intergroup acculturation discrepancies, and the interaction of stereotypes with acculturation perceptions on acculturation preferences. A sample of 488 Spanish adolescents and 360 adolescents of Moroccan-origin living in Spain, from 12 to 19 years old, reported how moral, immoral, social, and competent they perceive each other to be. Spanish adolescents reported their perception about how Moroccan youth were acculturating in terms of maintaining their original culture and adopting the host culture, and their acculturation preferences in the same dimensions. Adolescents of Moroccan-origin reported to what extent they were maintaining their original culture and adopting the host culture, their acculturation preferences, and their ethnic and national (Spanish) identity. Results showed that adolescents of Moroccan-origin reported more positive perceptions of Spanish youth than conversely. The perceived immorality of the outgroup was important for understanding the preferences for adopting the host culture of both groups, but in the opposite direction. The four stereotype dimensions modulated the majority-minority discrepancies in preferences for cultural adoption. An analysis of the interaction between stereotypes and perceived adoption on acculturation preferences showed that when Spanish adolescents perceived that Moroccan youth were not adopting the Spanish culture, perceived morality and sociability played a role in their preferences for adoption. The less moral and sociable Moroccans were perceived, the more preference for cultural adoption. These findings support the importance of considering stereotypes in acculturation studies of majority and minority groups, as well as the relevance of including these perceptions in interventions aimed at improving intercultural relations.

Who adopts the culture of ethnic minority groups? A personality perspective on majority-group members’ acculturation

Acculturation is commonly conceptualized as a two-way process in which all groups involved in intercultural contact change. Yet, very little is known about the acculturation orientations of majority-group members and the factors that differentiate those who adopt aspects of minority groups’ culture from those who reject them. In the present research, we for the first time aimed to answer this question from a personality perspective. A total of 301 White majority-group members living in the U.S. first completed a personality assessment and then indicated the extent to which they maintained their own culture and adopted the culture of ethnic minority groups. Our analytic approach combined top-down variable-centered and bottom-up person-centered analyses. In terms of variable-centered analyses, participants who adopted the culture of minority groups scored lower on conscientiousness and higher on openness. Moreover, adoption of minority-group cultures was positively associated with the personality facets sociability and inquisitiveness, and negatively with modesty and prudence. In terms of person-centered analyses, four acculturation clusters emerged, resembling strategies commonly observed among minority groups: marginalization, separation, integration and a diffuse strategy in which participants scored around the midpoint on own culture maintenance as well as minority culture adoption. Interestingly, especially this diffuse cluster differed from the other clusters on personality traits and facets, with participants tending to be more open than integrated and separated individuals, and less conscientious than separated individuals. The present report suggests that personality traits may help explain how majority-group members acculturate and highlights avenues for future research.

Acculturation Orientation of Migrant Students

Due to the intensification of global migration movements, the importance of studies in the field of acculturation has been increasing. In order to develop a healthy adaptation process between the migrant community and the host society, it is especially necessary to conduct studies on the acculturation processes of young migrants. Exploring the acculturation orientation of migrant students in Turkey, one of the leading countries experiencing the migration movements intensively, this study collected data from a total of 110 migrant students, 69 females and 41 males. “Vancouver Index of Acculturation”, “Revised Social Contact Scale”, “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support”, “Turkish Proficiency Level Questionnaire” and “Personal Information Form” were employed as data collection tools. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The analyses results revealed that the level of perceived social support of migrant students from their families and the quality of social contact significantly predicted their heritage culture orientation and explained 18% of them. In addition, the quantity of migrant students’ social contact and the quality of social contact significantly predicted their mainstream culture orientation and explained 25% of them. As a result, the present study put forth that in order to support the heritage culture orientation of migrant students, the perceived social support from the family should be improved, and the quantity and quality of social contact should be increased to reinforce their mainstream culture orientation and to facilitate the acculturation processes.

Common Sense Illness Beliefs of Diabetes Among At-Risk Latino College Students

This study examined the validity of the Implicit Model of Illness Questionnaire (IMIQ - Schiaffino & Cea, 1995) when used with Latino college students (n = 156; 34% male, 66% female) who are at-risk for developing diabetes due to family history of this disease. An exploratory principal-axis factor analysis yielded four significant factors - curability, personal responsibility, symptom variability/seriousness, and personal attributions - which accounted for 35% of variance and reflected a psychosocial-biomedical common sense perspective of diabetes. Factor-based analyses revealed differences in diabetes illness beliefs based on students' age, generational status, acculturation orientation, and disease experience of the afflicted relative.

Acculturation through the lens of language: Syrian refugees in Canada and Germany

AbstractThe objective of our study was to investigate the acculturation experiences of Syrian refugee families in two contexts (Toronto, Canada, and Munich, Germany) 2 years postresettlement. Specifically, using qualitative methodologies, we examined acculturation orientation through the lens of parent and child minority and majority language use and preferences within multiple contexts. The interview data related to parent and child minority and majority language practices in Canada suggested an integration orientation. Those of families living in Germany were less indicative of a clear orientation; contextual factors restricted parents’ participation in the majority culture, while the youngest of their children tended toward assimilation. Our study revealed similarities and differences in the acculturation experiences of Syrian refugees in Canada and Germany and unveiled specific factors that influenced acculturation orientation in each country.

Parenting–Acculturation Match and Psychosocial Adjustment for Academically Gifted Chinese American Adolescents

ObjectiveGrounded in person–environment fit theory, we examine how different levels of parenting–acculturation match are associated with gifted Chinese American students' psychosocial adjustment. This study identifies parenting profiles indicated by psychological control and decisional autonomy granting and adolescents' acculturation profiles indicated by mainstream American culture and Chinese culture orientations.BackgroundAccording to person–environment fit theory, optimal adjustment occurs when there is a match between individuals' environments and needs. However, it remains understudied whether academically gifted Chinese American adolescents have optimal psychosocial adjustment when their acculturation orientation matches with their family's parenting profile.MethodUsing self‐report questionnaires, this study assessed 222 academically gifted Chinese American adolescents' perceptions of parental psychological control and autonomy granting, American and Chinese culture orientation, and psychosocial adjustment (depression, anxiety, social acceptance, and self‐esteem). Latent profile analysis was used to identify parenting and acculturation‐orientation profiles.ResultsThree parenting profiles were identified: high control oriented (14.9%; i.e., high in psychological control and low in decisional autonomy granting), slight control oriented (44.6%; i.e., psychological control slightly exceeding decisional autonomy granting), and child oriented (40.5%; i.e., low in psychological control and high in decisional autonomy granting). Given that all the adolescents in the sample slightly preferred mainstream American culture to Chinese culture, three levels of parenting–acculturation match were identified: a strong match (for those in child‐oriented families), moderate match (for those in slight‐control‐oriented families), and weak match (for those in high‐control‐oriented families).ConclusionThe adolescents with a strong parenting–acculturation match reported lower anxiety and higher social acceptance and self‐esteem than those with a weak match.ImplicationsPractitioners working with academically gifted Chinese American adolescents should seek to understand adolescents' acculturation and the parenting practices in their families and acknowledge how their psychosocial problems are associated with a mismatch in adolescent acculturation and parenting. Strategies for mitigating psychosocial problems in relation to an acculturation–parenting mismatch are discussed.

Essentialism affects the perceived compatibility of minority culture maintenance and majority culture adoption preferences.

This paper presents two cross-sectional survey studies, both conducted in Britain, which focus on how different cultural identities are managed in multicultural settings. Specifically, the studies explored the extent to which essentialism moderates the perceived compatibility of acculturation orientations, heritage culture maintenance and majority culture adoption. In study 1, participants (N=198) were Somali minority members living in the UK. It was found when minority members essentialized Britishness themselves, and when they perceived that British people essentialized Britishness, they saw a desire to maintain the culture of origin and a desire adopt the majority culture as conflicting with each other. In study 2, participants (N=200) were white British majority members living in the UK. Findings showed that when white British majority members essentialized Britishness, they too perceived the two acculturation preferences as being incompatible with each other. Taken together, these studies show that essentializing British identity can lead to a view that the majority and minority cultures are mutually exclusive. Implications for intergroup relations and integration into British society are discussed.

The role of acculturation in hotel managers' person-environment (P-E) fit and hiring decisions: An experimental study on immigrant job applications

This study aims to examine the effect of acculturation strategies on managers' person-environment (P-E) fit and hiring decisions. An experimental research design was employed, within whose context, four conditions were created and fictitious job interview record forms of applicants were presented to hotel managers in Turkey. The findings revealed that the separated Syrian applicant was evaluated to have a lower P-E fit. Furthermore, the separated Syrian applicant has a lower employability score than the other applicants and is less preferred for the vacancy in point. Theoretically, the current research expands the current literature by revealing that acculturation preferences impact managers' assessments of P-E fit and their hiring decisions. In practice, this study highlights the importance of cultural awareness and intercultural skills for managers, and the need to implement rigorous assessment tools.