African American Acculturation Research Articles

Shifting Can Be Stressful for African American Women: A Structural Mediation Model

The present study was designed to examine shifting, the phenomenon of altering or modifying one’s self-presentation in different social contexts, as a mediator of the predictive effects of African American women’s acculturation on their perceived race-related stress. To explore this issue, measures of African American acculturation, shifting, and race-related stress were examined within a structural model. The current study quantitatively examined the relationships of these variables among a sample of 366 African American women. Results of a structural equation model indicated full mediation; greater levels of immersion in African American acculturation resulted in greater levels of shifting, which, in turn, generated increased levels of race-related stress. These data extend previous work and expand the literature regarding African American women’s shifting. Implications for clinical work and future research with African American women are also discussed.

Factors Influencing Academic Success Among African American College Women: The Impact of African American Acculturation and Religiosity

African Americans are historically an underresearched, underrepresented, and underserved population. Furthermore, academic success research has primarily focused on White students, thus creating questions as to the appropriateness of generalizing results to students of color. This study explored factors that influence academic success in African American college women, specifically examining the impact of African American acculturation and religiosity. A total of 129 self-identified Black/African American college women completed an online survey assessing level of acculturation, religious commitment, and academic college success as determined by GPA and a college student academic success inventory. Simple regression analysis revealed that the relationship between acculturation and GPA was found to be statistically indiscernible, as was the relationship between GPA and religiosity. Significant relationships were found between the independent variables, African American acculturation and religiosity, and certain domains of the success inventory utilized in this study. The results of this study add to the current and contradictory research involving factors that influence African American women college success. This study provides suggestions for future research on this topic.

Acculturation and quality of life in urban, African American caregivers of children with asthma

Objective: Racial/ethnic minority caregivers of children with asthma are at risk for low levels of quality of life (QOL). Limited research has identified factors that contribute to lower QOL among African American caregivers. This study examined associations between acculturation (e.g., engaging in values/beliefs traditional of one's culture versus adopting mainstream cultural views) and caregiver QOL in low-income, urban African American families of children (7–12 years) with persistent asthma. We also investigated the association between caregiver QOL and child emergency department (ED) use. Methods: Fifty-five caregivers and their children completed interview-based questionnaires in a single research session. Caregivers completed the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver Quality of Life Questionnaire (PACQLQ), the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised (AAAS-R), and reported on child asthma variables. Children completed items assessing asthma control. Results: Higher overall QOL and emotional function subscale scores were associated with more traditional African American religious beliefs/practices (r = .288, p = .033; r = .333, p = .013). Higher emotional function subscale scores were associated with more traditional values of African American families (r = .306, p = .023). Lower QOL was found among caregivers of children who had visited the ED three or more times in the last year. Conclusions: Less acculturation tied to religious beliefs/practices and family values (as measured by the AAAS-R) may serve a protective role in reducing the burden low-income, urban African American caregivers experience in managing child asthma. This study is the first of its kind to study acculturation in African American caregivers of children with asthma.

Smoking Cessation Intervention Preferences Among Urban African Americans: A Mixed Methods Approach.

African Americans suffer disproportionately from smoking-related morbidity and mortality and make more quit attempts but report less success in quitting. Smokers tend to identify more strongly with African American culture. Qualitative interviews were conducted to elicit perceptions toward smoking and intervention content. Seventy-one African American smokers recruited from community locations participated. The majority stated they would not use any cessation aids if trying to quit smoking, despite the availability of free nicotine replacement. Acculturative stress scores were significantly higher in younger participants and those with higher income. Higher African American acculturation did not predict smoking cessation intervention preference. Family and social relationships were cited as both reasons for wanting to quit and reasons for continuing to smoke. Based on these findings, interventions for urban African Americans should address household members continuing to smoke, social/family connections, stress management, and cultural identification in urban areas.

Acculturation Style and Alcohol Use Among African American College Students

This study examined whether a relationship exists between acculturation and alcohol use among African American college students and if the relationship varies by religiosity and gender. Most researchers use unidimensional African American acculturation measures that cannot capture the construct’s complexity; this study is the first to use a bidimensional measure. Results revealed a relationship between acculturation and alcohol use. Less frequent drinking occurred among marginalists (those who reject both African and Eurocentric U.S. culture), while assimilationists (those who reject African culture in favor of Eurocentric U.S. culture) drank more frequently. Religiosity and gender also significantly influenced the nature of the relationship.

Acculturation Predicts 7-Day Smoking Cessation Among Treatment-Seeking African-Americans in a Group Intervention

African-Americans suffer disproportionately from tobacco-associated morbidity and mortality. Considering the relationship between cultural variables and cessation may be important for reducing disparities. This study aimed to examine acculturation as a predictor of smoking cessation following a standard group intervention. Treatment-seeking smokers (N = 140) participated in a group intervention for cessation plus transdermal nicotine patch therapy and completed the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised at baseline. The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at the end-of-counseling and 3 and 6months postintervention. Adjusted logistic regression analyses found that acculturation predicted end-of-counseling and 3-month 7-day point prevalence abstinence; traditional African-Americans (i.e., less acculturated) were less likely to quit smoking. Cultural superstitions, religious beliefs and practices, and interracial attitudes were predictive of smoking cessation. Acculturation was associated with cessation following a group-based intervention. Culturally specific adaptations to established interventions might improve outcomes for traditional smokers.

Testing the factor structure of a scale to assess african american acculturation: a confirmatory factor analysis

AbstractResearch has pointed to the important role that acculturation plays in understanding a range of physical health behaviors as well as psychological functioning, but only a few studies have attempted to establish reliable and valid measures of African American acculturation. The scale developed by Snowden and Hines (1999) to assess African American acculturation provided an interesting line of inquiry for the present study because no further validation studies have been conducted to assess the underlying factor structure of this measure since its introduction several years ago. Confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to test the measure's underlying structure and to determine consistency with the results of the original study. Results suggest that this scale represents multiple dimensions of acculturation (i.e., media preferences, social interaction patterns, and attitudes). Findings will assist researchers and practitioners in the future measurement and application of this construct. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Does one size fit all African American smokers? The moderating role of acculturation in culturally specific interventions.

There is a consensus that interventions for ethnic minority populations should be culturally specific (CS). A previous study found that although African American smokers indicated a preference for CS self-help materials over standard materials, several outcomes were superior for the standard information (Webb, 2008). The current study reports on a priori analyses that tested level of acculturation as a moderating variable for the efficacy of CS interventions in a sample of low-income African Americans. Participants (N = 182) completed the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised before receiving a CS smoking cessation guide or a standard guide. As hypothesized, level of acculturation predicted evaluations of the intervention content, readiness to quit smoking, and 24-hr point prevalence abstinence at the 3-month follow-up. Lower levels of acculturation (i.e., more engagement in traditional African American culture) predicted a preference for CS materials and greater readiness to quit smoking after receiving the CS guide. Yet, among participants who were less acculturated, 24-hr abstinence was greater after receiving the standard guide. Overall, these findings emphasize that individual differences in levels of acculturation to the dominant culture affect receptivity to CS written interventions. Intragroup differences should be considered prior to the provision of CS interventions.

Social support unique to African American mothers

The aim of the study was the identification of the cultural postpartum prevention practices of African American families. Using qualitative methods, 30 postpartum African American mothers were assessed for their degree of acculturation into the Anglo-American culture. The mothers were interviewed to ascertain their postpartum depression prevention practices. Degree of acculturation was ascertained using the Landrine & Klonoff (1995) African American Acculturation Scale. Cultural factors were identified using the Stern & Kruckman (1983) model of postpartum depression prevention criteria. Most mothers were found to be medium acculturated into the Anglo-American culture and exhibited several prevention criteria, including a designated postpartum period and the presence of female help, especially sisters.

Cultural Orientation as a Protective Factor Against Tobacco and Marijuana Smoking for African American Young Women

The present study examined cultural orientation as a protective factor against tobacco and marijuana smoking for African American young women (ages 18 to 25). African American college students (N=145) from a predominantly White university were administered subscales from the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised (AAAS-R); the shortened Individualism/Collectivism (INDCOL) Scale; a Tobacco and Drug Use Survey; and a background survey. Multiple logistic regression was conducted using cultural orientation variables as predictors and smoking status (i.e., tobacco and marijuana) as the criterion. It was expected that young women who endorsed traditional African American cultural characteristics (i.e., religious beliefs, health, family values, and socialization) and were collectivistic in their community (i.e., cultural interdependency) and familial (i.e., familial interdependency) interactions would be less likely to smoke. Results show that traditional religious beliefs and practice was protective against tobacco smoking for this sample of young women. Familial interdependency (e.g., supportive exchanges between friends, and consultation and sharing with parents), and traditional religious beliefs and practices surfaced as protective factors against marijuana smoking. Traditional health beliefs and practices was a risk factor for both tobacco and marijuana smoking. The implications signal the need for smoking prevention and cessation programs to focus on interpersonal factors which may strengthen African American young women’s religious and familial bonding.

Informing Cancer Prevention Strategies for African Americans: The Relationship of African American Acculturation to Fruit, Vegetable, and Fat Intake

Acculturation has been associated with health-related behaviors in African Americans. We sought to determine if there is a relationship between acculturation and dietary intake in African Americans. African Americans in the PREMIER trial completed the African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS) and 2 nonconsecutive 24-h dietary recalls (n = 238). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and canonical correlation were used to assess relationships between acculturation and dietary intakes. Canonical correlation (p = 0.05) showed that traditional African Americans had lower intakes of fruits/vegetables and milk/dairy with higher intakes of fats, meat, and nuts. This pattern was supported by differences in the ANOVA. African American acculturation is related to dietary intake. These findings have implications for the design of cancer-related public health messages targeted to African Americans.

Acculturation and Its Relationship to Smoking and Breast Self-Examination Frequency in African American Women

The concept of acculturation has been used to understand differences in health behaviors between and within a variety of racial and ethnic immigrant groups. Few studies, however, have examined the potential impact of acculturation on health behaviors among African Americans. The present study has two goals: 1) to reconfirm relations between acculturation and cigarette smoking; 2) to investigate the impact of acculturation on another type of health behavior, cancer screening and specifically breast self-examination (BSE). African American women (N = 66) attending an inner-city cancer-screening clinic completed study questionnaires. Results reconfirmed psychometric properties of the African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS); replicated the negative association between acculturation and lifetime smoking status; and found relations between acculturation and women's adherence to BSE frequency guidelines. Findings from this study raise the possibility that specific aspects of acculturation may better explain specific health behaviors.

Do Sociocultural Factors Predict Suicidality Among Persons of African Descent Living in the U.S.?

Given that researchers have found increased risk for suicidality and other psychiatric problems among acculturated individuals, we predicted similar results for African-descended people living in the U.S. We surveyed a community sample of 423 adult men and women of African descent to determine acculturation's relationship to Black suicide. Participants completed the African American Acculturation Scale, the Multi-Dimensional Support Scale, and a subscale of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempt were defined as a “yes” response to the questions, “have you ever considered taking your own life?” and “have you ever attempted to take your own life?” We found that religious well-being (not acculturation) was predictive of both suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempt.

Parental Cultural Perspectives in Relation to Weight‐Related Behaviors and Concerns of African‐American Girls

To determine whether cultural perspectives of parents may influence children's eating and physical activity behaviors and patterns of weight gain. African-American girls (ages 8 to 10 years) and their parents (or caregivers) (n = 210) participated at one of four Girls Health Enrichment Multisite Studies Phase 1 Field Centers. At baseline, parents completed questionnaires adapted from the African-American Acculturation Scale (AAAS), the Multiethnic Identity Scale (MEIS), and an original question on Global Cultural Identity. Girls' baseline measures included physical activity assessment by accelerometer, 24-hour dietary recalls, and questionnaires about body image and weight concerns. Principal components analysis indicated the expected AAAS and MEIS factor structures, with moderate to good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.61 to 0.82) and some intercorrelation among these measures (r = 0.17 to 0.57). Overall mean (SD) AAAS subscale scores of 4.1 (2.1) and 5.5 (1.8) of a possible 7 and 3.0 (0.9) of a possible 4 on the MEIS indicated, respectively, moderate to high levels of parental African-American cultural orientation and identity with moderate variability. Parental AAAS and MEIS scores were inversely correlated with girls' body image discrepancy and weight concern. One AAAS subscale was positively associated with total energy intake and percentage energy from fat. Overall, however, parental AAAS and MEIS scores were unrelated or inconsistently related to girls' physical activity and diet measures. The AAAS and MEIS measures had acceptable psychometric properties, except for weight concern, but did not give a consistent picture of how parental perspectives related to the girls' baseline attitudes and behaviors.

Revising and Improving the African American Acculturation Scale

The African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS) was revised and improved with a sample of 520 African American adults. Items that some participants in prior studies found objectionable were dropped, and a new version of the scale was created by factor analyzing the remaining items. The revised AAAS (AAAS-R) consists of 47 items that no participant has objected to; these comprise eight new, empirically derived subscales (i.e., factors) that have high reliability and validity and correlate r = .97 with the original 74-item version of the scale. It is strongly recommended that researchers interested in studying acculturation among African Americans use this new version of the scale.

African American Acculturation and Black Racial Identity: A Preliminary Investigation

This exploratory study examined the relationship between acculturation and racial identity among African Americans. One hundred eighty‐seven African American students completed the Black Racial Identity Attitude Scale (J. F. Helms & T. A. Parham, 1990) and the African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS; H. Landrine & E. Klonoff, 1995). Acculturation was associated with 3 of the 5 AAAS subscales: Dissonance, Immersion, and Emersion; Immersion had the greatest correlation with acculturation. A simultaneous regression analysis showed that the Pre‐Encounter subscale was a significant predictor of acculturation.

A Scale to Assess African American Acculturation

This study examined an acculturation scale designed for use in the African American population. Consisting of 10 items presented in Likert-scale format, the scale asked about: race-related cultural and media preferences (music, radio, television); racial balance in contexts of social interaction (friends, church congregation, parties, neighborhoods); race-related attitudes (relying on relatives for help, desirability of interracial marriage); and degree of comfort in interaction with Whites versus Blacks. Responses were gathered from a national probability sample of more than 900 African Americans. The data generally indicated an African American orientation within the sample but demonstrated notable variation on all items. The scale showed good reliability (internal consistency). Results from factor analysis pointed toward unidimensional structure. Evaluation of construct validity by examining sociodemographic correlates provided notable evidence of validity.

The effect of African-American acculturation on neuropsychological test performance in normal and HIV-positive individuals

Two studies were conducted to examine the relationship of acculturation to neuropsychological test performance among (1) medically healthy, neurologically normal African Americans (N = 170); and (2) HIV positive (HIV+) subgroups of African Americans and Whites (Ns = 20) matched on age, education, sex, and HIV disease stage. Acculturation was measured through self report for all participants, and linguistic behavior (Black English use) was assessed in a subset of medically healthy individuals (N = 25). After controlling for the effects of age, education, and sex, medically healthy African Americans who reported less acculturation obtained lower scores on the WAIS-R Information subtest and the Boston Naming Test than did more acculturated individuals. Black English use was associated with poor performance on Trails B and the WAIS-R Information subtest. HIV+ African Americans scored significantly lower than their HIV+ White counterparts on the Category Test, Trails B, WAIS-R Block Design and Vocabulary subtests, and the learning components of the Story and Figure Memory Tests. However, after accounting for acculturation, ethnic group differences on all measures but Story Learning became nonsignificant. These results suggest that there are cultural differences within ethnic groups that relate to neuropsychological test performance, and that accounting for acculturation may improve the diagnostic accuracy of certain neuropsychological tests.

African American acculturation: deconstructing race and reviving culture

Deconstructing Race and Reviving Culture A New Approach to 'Blacks' Toward a Theory of African American Acculturation Development and Cross-Validation of the African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS) Acculturation and Physical Health Acculturation and Mental Health Conclusions and Suggestions for Research

The African American Acculturation Scale II: Cross-Validation and Short Form

A cross-validation study of the 74-item, African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS) was conducted with a new, independent sample of 1 75 African American adults, who differed significantly from the standardization sample in age and ethnicity of neighborhood of residence. Results revealed that the majority of the AAAS subscales and their Cronbach 's alphas were stable across the samples nonetheless. Data from the standardization and the cross-validation samples were therefore combined and factor analyzed to create a short version of the scale. Forty-one items were excluded in the factor analyses. The ensuing short form of the AAAS (AAAS-33) consists of33 items assessing I Ofactors (subscales) of African American culture. These subscales are similar to the original 8 theoretically based subscales. The correlation between scores on the shortform and the original versions of the scale was r = .94. Additional analyses revealed that the AAAS-33 has acceptable group differences and concurrent validity, as well as split-half reliability of r = .77 and internal consistency reliabilities of r = .81 to r = .88. Scores on the subscales and on the total AAAS-33 were not related to social class, education, or social class of origin. The AAAS-33 is presented as a short form of the scale for use in research where the long form may not be appropriate.