ACCULTURATION

Sociologyindex, Acculturation, Sociology Books 2009, Books on Acculturation, Culture and Cultural Studies,

Acculturation is the adoption of or adaptation to an alien culture. Acculturation is a process of cultural transformation initiated by contacts between different cultures.

Acculturation takes place as societies experience the transforming impact of international cultural contact. The global trend towards modern economic organization and developed market economies has been accompanied by a process of cultural transformation. A key change is towards a transformation of economic organization, the great majority of individuals come to generate their income through employment or running businesses, rather than from economic bonds with family and community. In the modern world, there is great ease of international communication and interaction between cultures, but sociologists have generally focused attention on the global impact of the capitalist western world on other societies.

While each society experiences a unique process of cultural and economic transformation, there are some common trends that appear to be linked to the development of complex market economies, a wage employment system and urbanization.

Individuals experience acculturation when their social roles and socialization are shaped by norms and values that are largely foreign to their native culture. Educational and occupational experiences are the primary agents of the individual's acculturation process. Some sociologists use the term to refer simply to the process of learning and absorbing a culture, making it synonymous with socialization, but ‘enculturation’ is a more appropriate word for that meaning.

Acculturalization, Acculturational - Acculturation

Acculturate, Acculturize - cause to undergo acculturation

Acculturative - involving or producing acculturation

"Black Elk Speaks" and "Bread Givers": Acculturation
A 5 page paper which discusses two forms of acculturation that appear in "Black Elk Speaks" translated by John Neihardt. These conditions are then compared to similar realities presented in "Bread Givers" by Anzia Yezierska.

Bibliography:

G. Peterson, J.A. Cobas, H. Balcazar, and J. Amling. "Acculturation and Risk Behavior among Pregnant Mexican American Females: A Structural Equation Model." Sociological Inquiry 68 (November, 1998):536-556.

J.A. Cobas and Jorge Duany. Cubans in Puerto Rico: Ethnic Economy and Cultural Identity. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1997.

H. Balcazar, G. Peterson, and J.A. Cobas. “Acculturation and Health-related Risk Behaviors Among Mexican American Pregnant Women.” American Journal of Health Behavior (November-December 1996):425-433.

J.A. Cobas, H. Balcazar, M.B. Benin, V.M.Keith, and Yinong Chong. "Acculturation and Low Birthweight Infants among Latino Women: A Reanalysis of HHANES Data with Structural Equation Models." American Journal of Public Health 86 (March,1996):394-396

Two Different Worlds: Acculturation Stress and Adaptation among Cuban and Nicaraguan Families -
Andres G. Gil, University of Connecticut 
William A. Vega, University of California-Berkeley 
This is a study of acculturation and acculturation stress among Cuban and Nicaraguan adolescent males and their parents. The sample consisted of 674 Cuban-American and 211 Nicaraguan-American 6th and 7th grade adolescents and one of their parents. Hypotheses predicting group differences in acculturation stress were tested. Analyses were bivariate and multivariate, using parent and adolescent data. Findings indicated important differences in acculturation stress for different cohorts of immigrants within the two ethnic groups as well as differences between the subsamples. Important differences were also found between adolescent and parental acculturation stress, with more recent immigrants among the adolescents experiencing more language conflicts, while parents reported more long-term language conflicts. Adolescent and parental acculturation-related stressors and acculturation levels were strongly associated with lower levels of family cohesion, increased parent/child acculturation conflicts, adolescent self-esteem and adolescent perceived teacher derogation. The differences and similarities found between the Cuban and Nicaraguan groups, parents and adolescents, are discussed with a focus on the importance of the family as a coping source for the stresses associated with immigrant adaptation. 

Acculturation and smoking behavior in Asian-American populations 
Grace X. Ma, Yin Tan, Jamil I Toubbeh, Xuefen Su, Steven E. Shive and Yajia Lan 
Abstract: The relationship between acculturation and smoking behavior was examined in four Asian-American groups that included recent immigrants and US-born Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodians residing in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The study was part of a community-based, comprehensive cross-sectional study designed to assess a broad array of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors on tobacco use and tobacco-related cancer issues in the target multi-ethnic and multi-lingual Asian-American community. The sample of 1374 respondents was selected using a stratified-cluster proportional sampling technique, with a response rate of 83%. Findings indicated that acculturation had a variable effect on smoking behavior: more acculturated youth and less acculturated male adults had higher smoking rates than the less acculturated youth and the more acculturated male adults. Smoking rates for all females were generally lower than those of males regardless of acculturation status; however, acculturated adult females had a higher smoking rate than the less acculturated. 

Acculturation and Psychological Well-Being among Immigrant Adolescents in Finland 
A Comparative Study of Adolescents From Different Cultural Backgrounds -
Karmela Liebkind, Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti, University of Helsinki, Finland 
This study investigated the effects of acculturation on the psychological well-being of immigrant adolescents. The respondents were 11 to 20 years old, originally from the former Soviet Union, Turkey, Somalia, and Vietnam, and now living in Finland (N = 588). To gain an understanding of the complexity and specificity of the relationship between acculturation and psychological well-being, a large range of existing psychological well-being scales measuring acculturative stress, behavioral problems, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and sense of mastery were used as dependent variables. Most indices of psychological well-being were clearly and negatively related to perceived discrimination, and some of them were also positively related to second-language proficiency. In addition, the adolescents’ experiences of parental support and adherence to traditional family-related values promoted their psychological well-being. However, the impact of this adherence was found to depend on both the specific aspect of well-being measured and the specific family-related values in question. 

Adapting a Measure of Acculturation for Cross-Cultural Research 
Felicitas A. Dela Cruz, DNSc, RN, Azusa Pacific University 
Geraldine V. Padilla, PhD, American Cancer Society, California Division 
Elaine O. Agustin, BSN, RN, Methodist Hospital of Southern California 
Although Filipino Americans are projected to become the largest Asian American ethnic group in this millennium, no acculturation measure existed for this group. This article describes a systematic and replicable process used in adapting and modifying A Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (ASASH) for use with Filipino Americans. It depicts the multiple and iterative steps of translation and back translation to produce A Short Acculturation Scale for Filipino Americans (ASASFA) in English and in Tagalog—the Philippine national language. Also, it describes the methods undertaken for the measures to achieve linguistic and cross-cultural validity through content, technical, experiential, semantic, and conceptual equivalence. With the dearth of linguistically and culturally valid measures for immigrant populations, the adaptation of valid measures developed for other cultures remains a viable option. 

Acculturation and the Mental Health of Latina Women in the Women, Infant, and Children Program -
Antonia Cordero, University of Connecticut, West Hartford, cordero@uconnvm.uconn.edu 
Brenda Kurz, University of Connecticut, West Hartford, kurz@uconnvm.uconn.edu 
Studies have reported discrepant findings about the relationship between acculturation and mental health, often because of inattention to interethnic group differences. This 2003 exploratory study of various Latina ethnic groups attending the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Program compared five measures of acculturation and mental health status/utilization. The subgroups differed on language, immigration/migration history, and the prevalence of anxiety attacks and depressive syndrome. The prevalence of anxiety attacks was the highest among those who spoke primarily Spanish, the prevalence of the depressive syndrome was the highest among those with more traditional beliefs, and the use of mental health services was the highest among those with less traditional beliefs. Implications for practice are discussed. 

Relations of Depression, Acculturation, and Socioeconomic Status in a Latino Sample
Israel Cuellar, University of Texas-Pan American 
Robert E. Roberts, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 
This study investigated the relations among depression, acculturation, and socioeconomic status (SES) in a young-adult Latino sample. Data were obtained from 1,271 Latino first-year college students; 89% self-labeled as either Mexican American or Hispanic, and 11% as Mexican National. Symptoms of depression were compared for various acculturation levels, and bicultural groups with controls for SES and gender. The Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II) was used to assess acculturation characteristics. Clinical depression and symptoms of depression were measured using the DSD26 Symptom Scale for assessment of depressive symptoms and major depression. Variance in depression scores was found to be influenced more by gender and SES than by acculturation or ethnic identity status. Assimilated Mexican Americans reported significantly fewer symptoms of depression than their more traditional counterparts. Ethnicity and acculturation per se were not found to lessen or increase riskfordepression, but SES associated with ethnicity wasfound to directly affect depression scores. 

Acculturation, Drinking, and Intimate Partner Violence among Hispanic Couples in the United States: A Longitudinal Study -
Raul Caetano, Suhasini Ramisetty-Mikler 
Christine McGrath, University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus 
This article examines the 5-year association between acculturation, drinking, and maleto-female partner violence and female-to-male partner violence among Hispanic couples in the United States. A national representative sample of Hispanic couples 18 years of age or older was interviewed in 1995 and 2000. Both members of the couple were independently interviewed. Differences in prevalence rates of male-to-female partner violence and female-to-male partner violence, incidence, and recurrence across acculturation groups are not significant. Drinking is associated with acculturation among women. Couples with mixed acculturation level (high-medium) are less at risk for maleto-female partner violence. An increase of five standard drinks per week in men’s drinking decreases the risk of female-to-male partner violence by 10%. Acculturation level at Time 1 is not associated with male-to-female partner violence and female-to-male partner violence status 5 years later. 

Gang Membership and Acculturation: ARSMA-II and Choloization -
D. A. Lopez, California State University, Northridge 
Patricia O'Donnell Brummett, California State University, Northridge 
Choloization, a staple in gang research on Latinos, asserts that gang members are less acculturated than non-gang members. However, the concept has not been subjected to a quantitative analysis. Using a sample of Latino incarcerated youths from Los Angeles County (N = 370), the veracity of the concept of choloization using the ARSMA-II Acculturation Scale is examined. It was hypothesized that gang members have more of a Mexican orientation than non-gang members. The hypothesis was supported, providing empirical evidence for choloization. The authors suggest that the findings can assist in delinquency intervention but caution that the results can also further disenfranchise Latino gang members.

Books on Acculturation

Sociologyindex, Acculturation, Sociology Books 2008, Books on Acculturation

Acculturation: Advances in Theory, Measurement, and Applied Research (Decade of Behavior)by Kevin M. Chun (Editor), Pamela Balls Organista (Editor), Gerardo Marin (Editor)
Product Description
Univ. of California, San Francisco. A comprehensive analysis of theoretical and applied developments in the measurement of acculturation. Provides an interdisciplinary approach including theory, and data relevant to ethnic minority groups, and the relationship to other constructs such as identification.

The Cambridge Handbook of Acculturation Psychology by David L. Sam (Editor), John W. Berry (Editor)
Review
"This book is a must for any scholar interested in the topic of acculturation. It provides a comprehensive overview of key theories, concepts and methods, and highlights the unique experience of varied groups coming into cultural contact across a wide range of circumstances. This would be a great textbook for a graduate level cross-cultural psychology course, and a necessary addition to the reference shelf of any cross-cultural scholar."
--Dina Birman, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago
This volume will be an indispensable resource.' Felix Neto, Professor of Psychology, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
"A collection of authoritative original research papers which should prove useful to scholars, practitioners and policy makers engaged with minority ethnic groups and immigrants."
--Paul Ghuman, Emeritus Professor and Former Head of Education, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
"This Handbook marks a major landmark in the development of acculturation studies, and provides a comprehensive, authoritative and cutting-edge review of what is now a multifaceted subject. This volume will be an indispensable resource."
--Félix Neto, Professor of Psychology, Universidade do Porto, Portugal

Immigrant Youth in Cultural Transition: Acculturation, Identity, and Adaptation Across National Contexts by J.W. Berry (Editor), Jean S. Phinney (Editor), David L. Sam (Editor), Paul Vedder.
...successfully describes various aspects of the acculturation, identity, and adaptation of immigrant youth cross-nationally. Gender and peer group influences receive good coverage, which is not always the case in such studies. The adaptation of immigrant youth appears in a positive light. Immigrant Youth in Cultural Transition could serve as a catalyst for widespread change in conceptions of the immigrant youth experience. - PsycCRITIQUES
Product Description
In this book, an international team of psychologists with interests in acculturation, identity, and development describe the experience and adaptation of immigrant youth, using data from over 7,000 immigrant youth from diverse cultural backgrounds living in 13 countries of settlement. Immigrant Youth in Cultural Transition explores the way in which immigrant adolescents carry out their lives at the intersection of two cultures (those of their heritage group and the national society), and how well these youth are adapting to their intercultural experience.
Four distinct patterns are followed by youth during their acculturation:
• an integration pattern, in which youth orient themselves to, and identify with both cultures;
• an ethnic pattern, in which youth are oriented mainly to their own group;
• a national pattern, in which youth look primarily to the national society; and
• a diffuse pattern, in which youth are uncertain and confused about how to live interculturally.
The study shows the variation in both the psychological adaptation and the sociocultural adaptation among youth, with most adapting well.
This book is useful for professionals, researchers, graduate students, and public policy makers who have an interest in psychology, anthropology, sociology, demography, education, and psychiatry. It is also a valuable resource for public, governmental, and university libraries.

Acculturation and Psychological Adaptation (Contributions in Psychology) by Vanessa Smith Castro (Author) Product Description:
This volume addresses the psychological impact of interethnic contact and acculturation in Latin American settings, focusing on the effects of acculturation on self-esteem among adolescents. Opening with an account of relevant theoretical and empirical literature on interethnic contact and acculturation, this book represents an "acid test" of the cross-cultural applicability of theory and method largely derived from research on acculturation to North American and European settings. Much research has focused on acculturation processes among ethnic immigrants and ethnic minorities leading to the impression that host or majority groups remain unchangeable during acculturation. By contrast, this volume shows that psychological changes occur in all groups involved in the contact, reinforcing the idea that acculturation is a special case of mutual influence. This book will be of special interest for researchers, scholars or students seeking to understand the acculuturation process outside North America and Europe. Strong evidence is pressented showing the development of positive ties with both one's own and other relevant groups provides a more solid basis for self-esteem than relinquishing ties to the ethnic group of reference.

Acculturation and Heritage Language Maintenance: Cultural and Educational Experiences of Chinese Americans by Grace Huey-Yuh Lin (Author) Product Description:
This book focuses on the cultural and educational experiences of Chinese Americans. The research topic specifically focuses on the acculturation process and its impact on the ethnic identity and language maintenance among Chinese American families. This is an important and timely subject in light of the demographic shifts in the U.S. that reveal the arrival of large percentages of Chinese immigrant families. The demographic shift has impacted Houston and other large urban cities in substantial ways, particularly in private and public schools. This book provides educators, public policy makers, and others, with relevant, insightful data on the Chinese American immigrant experience. The research allows interested scholars to compare and contrast different immigrant experiences, adding to the knowledge base and creating a richer landscape of data that facilitates better decision-making by educators and leads to improved educational experiences for immigrant children. This book explores the relevant language and educational issues and research findings address appropriate measures to improve the educational achievement of immigrant children.