Acculturation The process and implications of cultural change

Cultural change Socialization (cultural learning without intent) Vertical transmission Horizontal transmission Oblique transmission parents kids sibling teacher student

More definitions Enculturation: Deliberate cultural learning Acculturation: Individual or group-level change that occurs as a result of first-hand contact with another culture

Acculturation Individual or group-level change that occurs as a result of first-hand contact with another culture More “American” More “Russian” Early conceptualization and scales were unidimensional

Is it considered to be of value to maintain the traditional cultural identity and characteristics? “YES” “NO” Is it considered to be of value to develop and maintain relationships with members of the new culture? “YES” “NO” BICULTURALISM ASSIMILATION SEPARATION MARGINALIZATION Four modes of acculturation Issue 1 Issue 2

Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans (ARSMA) by Cuellar, Harris, and Jasso (1980). What language do you speak? (LFU) What language do you prefer? (LFU) How do you identify yourself? (EPI) Which ethnic identification does (did) your mother use? (EPI) Which ethnic identification does (did) your father use'? (EPI) What was the ethnic origin of the friends and peers you had, as a child up to age 6? (EI) What was the ethnic. origin of the friends and peers you had, as a child from 6 to 18? (EI) Whom do you now associate with in the outside community? (EI) What is your music preference? (language) (LFU) What is your TV viewing preference? (language) (LFU) What is your movie preference? (language) (LFU) What is the nearest generation of the family member born in Mexico? (GP) Where were you raised? (CH) What contact have you had with Mexico? (e.g., lived there, visited, occasional communications with people there) (CH) What is your food preference? (EI) In what language do you think? (LFU) In which language do you read better (Spanish or English)? (LFU) In which language do you write better (Spanish or English)? (LFU) If you consider yourself a Mexican, Chicano, Mexican American member of La Raza, or however you identify this group. how much pride do you have in this group? (EPI) How would you rate yourself? (very Mexican, mostly Mexican, bicultural, mostly anglicized, very anglicized) (EPI) Note. LFU = Language Familiarity and Usage: EPI = Ethnic Pride and Identity; EI = Ethnic Interaction; GP = Generational Proximity; and CH = Cultural Heritage.

The Acculturation Process

Individua l Stress low SES or drop in SES family differences in acculturation “forced” migration age prejudice and discrimination language deficits Acculturative Stress

Factors affecting acculturative stress

Behavioral change as function of phase

Generation Status and Life Outcomes

Acculturation outcomes “Healthy immigrant” phenomenon Acculturation may lead to some negative consequences Burnam et al. (1987) study of acculturation of 1245 Mexican Americans in L.A. Younger immigrants acculturated faster Males acculturated faster More educated acculturated faster (accounts for sex difference but not age) Less acculturated individuals report less prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse, phobia, antisocial personality (Epidemiological Catchment Area study of rates of psychopathology in US. Related to Latinos) Depression rates lower in Mexican born people vs. US born Latino persons (Kessler et al, 1994)

Acculturation, Gender and Health Lopez-Gonzalez, Aravena, Hummer (2005) Interpreting Odds Ratios: 1=equal chance; 1.24 = 24% increase in odds compared to comparison group.25 = ¼ probability compared to comparison group

Acculturation, Gender and Health Lopez-Gonzalez, Aravena, Hummer (2005)

Acculturation and Latino Health ACCULTURATION AND LATINO HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES: A Review of the Literature and its Sociopolitical Context Annual Review of Public Health Vol. 26: (Volume publication date April 2005)