The demography of the United States is changing rapidly creating challenges in the classrooms and ultimately changing the educational system in the United States due to this increase in diversity. With this change there is a need for educators and educational researchers to know more about the most rapidly growing ethnic group: Latinos. The purpose of the present study was to investigate why some Latino students struggle to achieve in school while other Latino students excel in their educational pursuit. This study differs from other studies since it compares academic performance differences between Mexican (n=56) and Mexican American students (n=30) in a small suburban school district in an agricultural area in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The present study investigated barriers to academic achievement such as discrimination, acculturation, language acquisition and socioeconomic status, and looked at variables related to academic success. The study focused on two psychological constructs as possible predictors of academic achievement for this group of students: resilience and acculturation. In addition, a variety of variables were used in the study as demographic predictor variables. These included: birthplace (whether the student was born in the United States or Mexico), the student's level of acculturation, the length of time in the United States, the student's level of family socio-economic status, the student's level of resilience, gender, home language, and educational placements (ESL, Special Education, technical education enrollment). The outcome variables included a variety of measures of academic achievement including grade point average and SAT scores. All of the predictor variables were analyzed against all of the outcome variables using Pearson correlations and multiple regression. The findings of this study have addressed multiple issues surrounding resilience, acculturation and academic achievement within the new demography of the United States. While there were statistically significant findings, they are not necessarily meaningful due to the small effect size. Nonetheless, it is imperative that researchers continue to explore what factors may contribute to the success of some Latinos while others do not succeed. For example, one somewhat unexpected finding was the strength of the relationship between acculturation and academic achievement, since a student's cultural competence was a strong predictor of academic success. In addition to these findings and a subsequent discussion, this study highlights the need for more culturally sensitive resilience measures or acculturation measures and ways to support Latino students in order to bridge the academic achievement gap that exists. This study did bring attention to what may be societal struggles that impede the success of Latinos in the United States education system. / Educational Psychology

Past research on the impacts of acculturation gaps among immigrant family members has yielded inconclusive results potentially due to inconsistent analytical methods, lack of consideration of family processes, and discrepant conceptualizations of acculturation. With a sample of 161 Chinese Canadian immigrant families, the current study adopted a person-centred approach with a family lens to examine the nature of acculturation gaps and how these gaps were associated with family functioning and individual psychological adjustment. Latent profile analyses were utilized to generate mother-father-child acculturation profiles based on individual reports of acculturation (in the domains of cultural identity and value, separately) from mothers, fathers, and children in the same family. The results identified five family acculturation profiles in the identity domain and four family acculturation profiles in the value domain. Parents’ cultural disengagement was linked to the most positive psychological wellbeing and family relationships for all family members. The expected acculturation gaps in the Canadian host dimension were not found to be associated with the most depressive symptoms or family conflicts, suggesting that acculturation gaps where adolescents were more acculturated to the host culture than their parents may be normative in immigrant families and thus not linked to youth maladjustment. In contrast, the reversed acculturation gaps in the host dimension and the expected acculturation gaps in the heritage dimension were consistently found to be associated with family conflicts and individual psychological distress. The results also revealed an undifferentiated acculturation style that was not outlined in Berry’s model. An undifferentiated style was characterized by average acculturation levels on both the heritage and host dimensions, and it was the most prevalent individual acculturation style in the identity domain and the second most prevalent style in the value domain. Directions for future research and the benefits of using a person-centered approach in the research of acculturation gaps are discussed. / Graduate / 2023-09-06

The increasing presence of "Latinos" in higher education presents a challenge to the academy, particularly in understanding their adjustment to the college environment (Umana-Taylor, Diversi & Fine, 2002). This study investigates how ethnically diverse "Latino\a" undergraduates construct and affirm ethnic identity. The findings suggest that a "Latino\a" pan-ethnicity is problematic because of the diversity of national origins, family histories, linguistic preferences, and cultural traditions that exists among the different nationalities that comprise this ethnic group. Unlike previous generations of immigrants, new diaspora "Latinos" seek integration into American society as bilinguals with linguistic command for both Spanish and English and resist abandonment of national identities and culture. These are suggestive of transnational identities that are multiple and adaptive to a variety of contexts and situations; rather than being fixed and constant. / Ph. D.

Alcohol use among international students in a U.S. community college setting was explored in regard to the interrelationships with acculturation stress and drinking motivations. Misuse of alcohol has been acknowledged as a serious problem on American college campuses. A positive relationship between stress and alcohol use has been documented among those who lack internal and external resources and support systems. International students have been recognized as higher-risk than other college students due to acculturation stress. However, very few studies have investigated the drinking behaviors of this population. To fill this research gap, a survey was conducted with non-immigrant international students (F-1 students) (N = 126) and immigrants international students (non-F-1 students) (N = 136) enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in a U.S. community college. The results, which were derived from responses to three published instruments, Index of Life Stress (ILS), Core Alcohol and Drug Survey (CADS) Community College Long Form, and Revised Drinking Motivation Questionnaire (DMQ-R), as well as the researcher-made demographic information sheet, indicated that these groups were not engaged in abusive drinking behavior. This finding may reflect the support systems available to these students in an ESL setting and their family/friend networks. However, moderately strong zero-order correlations between acculturation stress and drinking motives to control negative affects were revealed. Further discussions and implication are provided. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to collect exploratory data on dietary acculturation, physical activity, and body image in a limited resource Latina population in northern Virginia. Acculturation may be described as a process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group. Acculturation has been associated with a variety changes in terms of diet, physical activity and body image. Most dietary acculturation research in the U.S. has focused on Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, and Puerto Ricans; however this study was composed of mostly Central and South Americans. Eighty-five subjects were recruited from the Arlington County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, Arlington County Women, Infants, and Children program, and the Fairfax County Parklawn Family Center. Demographic information, acculturation, fruit and vegetable intake, saturated fat avoidance, physical activity, and body image were assessed with written survey instruments. The results indicated that this Latina population with limited resources in northern Virginia was mainly from Bolivia and El Salvador, and was not highly acculturated. Almost half of the participants were overweight or obese. About 50% of the population met the 5-A-Day goal for fruit and vegetable intake and almost 95% of participants exhibited at least one form of saturated fat avoidance. Eighty-five percent of the population reported participating in 30 minutes or more leisure-time physical activity less than 3 times each week, though a similar percentage reported that physical activity was important for health. Sixty percent of respondents were on a weight loss diet. While there was a significant relationship between the number of servings of fruit consumed and acculturation, there was no significant relationship between acculturation and any other dietary, physical activity or body image factor measured. The results of this study provide a baseline for further research in the limited resource Latina population in northern Virginia. / Master of Science

Data for Hispanic participants in the 1985 - 1988 California Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Program were examined to determine whether acculturation level and marital status have an effect on maternal educational outcomes and infant health outcomes. Following Becerra and de Anda (1984) language preference is used as an approximation of acculturation level. With respect to marital status, two models are constructed. In Model 1, marital status includes the values never married or ever married. In Model 2, married and cohabiting women are grouped together and compared with women who neither have married nor cohabited. Logistic regression was used to determine the effect of these independent variables on the dichotomized maternal education and infant health variables. The infant health measures examined in this study are birthweight (low or adequate birthweight) and neonatal intensive care unit admission. More acculturated women were found to be more likely to have babies admitted to the NICU than less acculturated women. More acculturated women were also more likely than less acculturated women to be enrolled or graduated from school at the time they exited the AFL Program. Bivariate analyses for marriage with both birthweight and NICU admission approached significance. The logistic regression analyses for these relationships were not significant. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to better understand associations between acculturation, parental beliefs, mother-child emotion talk, and emotion understanding in Latino preschool-aged children. Research on Latino families may prove to be important given the little research that has focused on emotion understanding strictly in Latino cultures. Forty Latino mother-child dyads were observed throughout a series of naturalistic observations. Mothers self-reported their acculturation and their beliefs about the value and danger of children's emotions, children's emotional development processes, and their role in guiding their children's emotions. Mother-child emotion talk and framing was measured during a 15 minute story-telling task using a Lego house and through a wordless picture book. Children's emotion understanding was measured using two standard tasks. Results showed that mothers' acculturation was related to their beliefs about the danger of emotions, their role in guiding their child's emotions, and their child's readiness to learn about emotions. Mothers' acculturation was also related to children's emotion understanding. Mothers' beliefs about guiding children's emotions were related to mothers' labeling of emotions and to children's emotion understanding. This study confirms and expands several previous findings relating to emotion socialization of children. Overall, results highlight the importance of acculturation for parents' beliefs about emotions and children's emotion understanding. / Master of Science

Background: Despite the growing research on consumer behaviour among various consumer segments, refugees as a consumer segment remain understudied. Factors such as favourable immigration policies have resulted in Sweden's rising refugee population. This growing consumer segment encounters unique challenges linked to a multitude of factors. It is crucial to study these factors to understand the role it plays in shaping refugees' consumer behaviour. Understanding refugees' consumer behaviour is necessary to encourage social inclusion, aid in their economic integration, and direct marketing efforts. Purpose: This research study explores consumer behaviour and the acculturation process of refugees in Sweden. The purpose is to understand the influence of socio-cultural factors on refugees' consumer behavior and their acculturation process. It also investigates the external influences and their role in shaping refugees' consumer behaviour and acculturation.  Method: This study follows a qualitative design whereby 12 interviews were conducted with refugees residing in Sweden. Given the research aims an exploratory design was deemed appropriate. The philosophical framework that guided the study was the interpretivism paradigm. The study is primarily based upon an inductive approach whereby the data collected was coded, analysed, and interpreted using thematic analysis.  Conclusion: The results show that socio-cultural factors which include demographic variables (age, length of residence, education level), cultural values, ethnic identity, and language shape refugee consumer behavior and acculturation. The findings also show that external influences which include income, social media, peers, marketplace cultures, and laws &regulations play a role in the refugees' consumer behaviour. Younger, more educated refugees and those with longer residency integrate faster. Strong ethnic identity persists through consumption choices. Language proficiency is crucial to participate in the market effectively. Income constraints necessitate budget-conscious strategies, leading to social and economic exclusion. Social media and friend networks provide the necessary support to navigate the new market. Swedish laws and regulations and a cashless marketplace create barriers, emphasizing the need for economic integration strategies.

Yes / This research examines the extent to which immigrant consumers' use of social networking sites affect their socialization and political engagement in the Netherlands. The study uses self-administered questionnaires to collect data from 514 Turkish-Dutch respondents of various ages, occupations, levels of education and locations in the Netherlands. The study finds that the propensity to share information, the intensity of use, and privacy concerns positively impact socialization on online social networking sites. In addition, a significant positive relationship between socialization and political involvement positively impacts voting intentions. The study also examines the interaction effects of enculturation and acculturation orientations on the relationship between socialization and political involvement. The study's findings point to a positive moderating role of acculturation in this relationship but a negative one for enculturation. The study is the first to investigate simultaneously the drivers of socialization on social networking sites in the context of immigrant consumers and the impact of their socialization on political involvement and voting intention. The research further contributes to the scholarly work by exploring the interaction effects of acculturation and enculturation orientation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Yes / This study examines the extent to which acculturation and enculturation orientations affect online political participation, political involvement and voting intentions among a sample of Turkish-Dutch immigrants. The study uses data from Turkish-Dutch participants. Structural Equations Modelling (SEM) is employed for assessing the relationships in the conceptualized model. The findings show that enculturation and acculturation influence online participation and involvement, which in turn, are related to voting intentions. The study further examines the mediating role of political involvement and online political participation. Political involvement mediates the relationships between enculturation and acculturation and voting intentions. The results further indicate the effect of online participation on voting intentions is mediated by political involvement. The study findings provide insights into offline and online cultural and civic engagement tendencies among an important immigrant segment that policy makers should consider in the future.