Is acculturation unidimensional or bidimensional? A head-to-head comparison in the prediction of personality, self-identity, and adjustment.
The unidimensional model of acculturation posits that heritage and mainstream culture identifications have a strong inverse relation, whereas the bidimensional model posits that the 2 identifications are independent. The authors compared these models in 3 samples of ethnic Chinese (ns = 164, 150, and 204), 1 sample of non-Chinese East Asians (n = 70), and one diverse group of acculturating individuals (n = 140). Although the unidimensional measure showed a coherent pattern of external correlates, the bidimensional measure revealed independent dimensions corresponding to heritage and mainstream culture identification. These dimensions displayed patterns of noninverse correlations with personality, self-identity, and psychosocial adjustment. The authors conclude that the bidimensional model is a more valid and useful operationalization of acculturation.
Ryder
A G
AG
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. agryder@interchange.ubc.ca
Alden
L E
LE
Paulhus
D L
DL
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005202:Asia, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012933:Social Identification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires