THE FAMILY CONTEXT OF

ACCULTURATION +

ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH

Lauren Chance + Catherine L. Costigan

University of Victoria

Learning Objectives

Disseminate empirical research findings to broad audience

Raise awareness about potential impact of acculturation within family system, with a specific focus on adolescent mental health

Stimulate discussion regarding best practices for clinical work with immigrant families in child + youth mental health settings

Immigration in Canada

First generation immigrants comprise 19.8% of Canadian population

2031 projection: 25-28%

27.5% of population in British Columbia

Median age of arrival = 29.8 years

14% immigrated from People’s Republic of China (2001-2006)

(Chui, Tran, + Mayheux, 2007; Malenfant, Lebel, +

Martel, 2010)

Acculturation

Negotiation of two (or more) sets of cultural influences, in the context of ongoing contact between cultural groups

Impacts behaviour, identity + values

Current study: behavioural acculturation

Cultural engagement in a variety of domains: language use, media, social circle, traditions observed, food, etc.

Bidimensional: maintenance of heritage culture is parallel process to adoption of dominant culture in new country

Adopting Canadian culture does not necessarily mean loss of heritage culture

(Berry, 1997; Chia + Costigan, 2006; Schwartz,

Unger, Zamboagna, + Szapocznik, 2010)

Acculturation + Mental Health

Extensive research, mixed results

Inconsistent measurement of acculturation

Greatest consistency found in domain of adolescent + adult substance use

Research suggests benefits of heritage culture maintenance (e.g., protective effects of ethnic identity)

Various theories about effects of adopting new culture

Cultural competency – beneficial

Healthy immigrant effect – detrimental

(Koneru, Weisman de Mamani, Flynn, + Betancourt,

2007; Costigan, Koryzma, Hua, + Chance, 2010 )

The Current Study

Goal: Examine relations between adolescent

acculturation and adolescent mental health, using

bidimensional measurement of acculturation

Important to understand family context of

acculturation: how does parental acculturation

relate to adolescent mental health?

The Current Study

Fathers’

Acculturation

Adolescents’

Acculturation

Adolescent

Mental Health

The Current Study

Adolescents’

Acculturation

Adolescent

Mental Health

Mothers’

Acculturation

The Intercultural Family Study

Goal: To evaluate how acculturation experiences, family relationships + parenting relate to cultural + psychological adjustment

Focus: Chinese Canadian immigrant families

Areas of study: ethnic identity, language brokering, parenting beliefs + expectations

Unique Features

(Mostly) Representative sample (N = 182 families)

Longitudinal (n = 152; 18 months later)

Multiple independent informants

The Intercultural Family Study

Eligibility Criteria

Self-identify ethnicity as Chinese

Both parents emigrated from the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong after age 18

Lived in Canada for at least 2 years

Adolescent aged 12-17 @ T1

Reside in Victoria or Vancouver areas

Recruitment Procedures

2/3 randomly recruited via survey research centre

1/3 referred (participating families)

Demographics

Current study: subset of larger sample (n = 161)

married, 2-parent families + adolescent participation

In majority of families, both parents immigrated from same region:

People’s Republic of China (64.2%)

Taiwan (20.4%)

Hong Kong (11.1%)

Predominantly lived in urban areas prior to immigration

Demographics

Mothers Fathers

Age M = 44.66 years (SD = 4.69) M = 47.03 years (SD = 5.67)

Length of

residence

M = 10.49 years (SD = 6.32) M = 10.95 years (SD = 7.03)

Highest

level of

education

High school (13.6%)

Vocational/college (32.7%)

University degree (33.3%)

Graduate/professional (14.2%)

High school (11.2%)

Vocational/college (20.4%)

University degree (27.2%)

Graduate/professional (33.5%)

Employment

status

Full time (51.1%)

Part time (17.6%)

Unemployed/looking (9.3%)

Unemployed by choice (19.8%)

Full time (64.8%)

Part time (13.7%)

Unemployed/looking (4.4%)

Unemployed by choice (4.9%)

Demographics

Mean age of adolescents @ T1 = 14.95 years (SD = 1.69)

52% female, 48% male

Generational Status

55% 1st generation (came to Canada after age 6)

Length of residence: M = 6.30 years, SD = 1.98

45% 2nd/1.5 generation

1.5 generation: born in Canada or immigrated before age 6

Measures

Variable Measure Sample Items

Behavioural

Acculturation

Expanded +

adapted ARSMA-II

(Cuellar, Arnold +

Maldonado, 1995)

• I enjoy Chinese language TV*

• I enjoy English language TV

Adolescent

Mental

Health

Youth Self-Report

(Achenbach, 1991)

Internalizing Symptoms:

• I worry a lot (Anxious/Depressed)

• I refuse to talk (Withdrawn/Depressed)

• I feel overtired without good

reason(Somatic Complaints)

Externalizing Symptoms:

• I lie or cheat (Rule-Breaking Behaviour)

• I argue a lot (Aggressive Behaviour)

* Each item answered separately for Chinese and Canadian cultures on 5 pt scale

(1 = not at all, 3 = Moderately, 5 = Extremely often or almost always)

Model 1A: Canadian Behavioural

Acculturation (Fathers + Adolescents)

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

Χ2(10) = 20.78, p = .02 (CMIN/df = 2.01, CFI = .97, RMSEA = .08, RMSEA CI90 = .03 - 13)

Fathers

Adolescents

.01

-.02

-.12

.20*

Adolescent

Internalizing

Symptoms

.79*** .90***

76*** .67***

.86***

Adolescent

Externalizing

Symptoms

Anxiety/Dep

ression

Withdrawal/

Depression

Somatic

Complaints

Rule Breaking

Behaviour Aggressive

Behaviour

Withdrawal/

Depression

-.39***

Model 1B: Canadian Behavioural

Acculturation (Mothers + Adolescents)

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

Χ2(10) = 18.43, p = .05 (CMIN/df = 1.84, CFI = .98, RMSEA = .07, RMSEA CI90 = .01 - 12)

Mothers

Adolescents

-.08

-.10

-.11

.11

Adolescent

Internalizing

Symptoms

.80*** .89***

76*** .67***

.85***

Adolescent

Externalizing

Symptoms

Anxiety/Dep

ression

Withdrawal/

Depression

Somatic

Complaints

Rule Breaking

Behaviour Aggressive

Behaviour

Withdrawal/

Depression

-.39***

Model 2A: Chinese Behavioural Acculturation

(Fathers + Adolescents)

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

Χ2(10) = 15.65, p = .11 (CMIN/df = 1.57, CFI = .98, RMSEA = .06, RMSEA CI90 = .00 - 11)

Fathers

Adolescents

-.06

-.08

.02

.10

Adolescent

Internalizing

Symptoms

.80*** .89***

73*** .68***

.88***

Adolescent

Externalizing

Symptoms

Anxiety/Dep

ression

Withdrawal/

Depression

Somatic

Complaints

Rule Breaking

Behaviour Aggressive

Behaviour

Withdrawal/

Depression

.18*

Model 2B: Chinese Behavioural Acculturation

(Mothers + Adolescents)

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

Χ2(10) = 13.94, p = .18 (CMIN/df = 1.39, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .05, RMSEA CI90 = .00 - 11)

Mothers

Adolescents

.22*

.06

-.04

.23**

Adolescent

Internalizing

Symptoms

.81*** .88***

73*** .68***

.88***

Adolescent

Externalizing

Symptoms

Anxiety/Dep

ression

Withdrawal/

Depression

Somatic

Complaints

Rule Breaking

Behaviour Aggressive

Behaviour

Withdrawal/

Depression

.16

Summary of Results

Greater adolescent engagement in Canadian culture related to lower levels of internalizing symptoms

Less consistent pattern: greater adolescent engagement in Chinese culture related to higher levels of internalizing symptoms

Greater maternal engagement in Chinese culture related to higher levels of adolescent externalizing symptoms

No relations between fathers’ behavioural acculturation and adolescent mental health

Discussion

Greater adolescent engagement in Canadian culture related to fewer internalizing symptoms

Competence within new culture = better social relations with peers, less loneliness Lower levels of depressive, anxiety, + somatic symptoms

Link between engagement in Chinese culture + higher levels of internalizing symptoms highlights complexity of acculturation process

Literature supports heritage culture engagement as protective factor (particularly ethnic identity)

Integrated acculturation style (engagement in both heritage + new culture) predicts best mental health outcomes

(Berry, 1997)

Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms

Anxious/Depr

essed

Depressed/Wi

thdrawn

Somatic

Complaints

Adolescents’

engagement in

Canadian

culture

-.31*** -.39*** -.21**

Adolescents’

engagement in

Chinese culture .17* .07 .12

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

Discussion

Absence of relation between adolescent engagement in Canadian culture + externalizing symptoms

Healthy immigrant effect not seen in this context

Low overall endorsement of adolescent substance use

Maternal engagement in Chinese culture related to higher levels of externalizing symptoms

Consider parenting roles of mothers vs. fathers

Might higher levels of adolescent externalizing symptoms influence mothers to seek out parenting support from Chinese sources?

Next Steps

Longitudinal data analysis needed to untangle bidirectional effects

Mechanisms linking maternal acculturation + adolescent mental health

Parenting practices as proximal indicator of broader acculturation processes

What factors might interact with acculturation to influence mental health?

Context: SES, community support, discrimination

Individual: Interaction of Chinese + Canadian cultural engagement

Clinical Implications

Working with immigrant families with adolescents in

community mental health settings

Assisting parents in supporting adolescents as they

navigate different cultures at home + at school

Engaging adolescents + families in treatment

Program development

Thank you!

To the families who participated in the study

To the research assistants

To SSHRC for funding our IFS research

Catherine L. Costigan, Lead Investigator

References

Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.

Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46(1), 5-34. doi:10.1080/026999497378467

Chia, A., & Costigan, C. L. (2006). A person-centred approach to identifying acculturation groups among Chinese Canadians. International Journal of Psychology, 41(5), 397-412. doi:10.1080/00207590500412227

Costigan, C. L., Koryzma, C., Hua, J. M., & Chance, L. J. (2010). Ethnic identity, achievement, and psychological adjustment: Examining risk and resilience among youth from immigrant Chinese families in Canada. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 264-273. doi:10.1037/a0017275

Chui, T., Tran, K. & Maheux, H. (2007). Immigration in Canada: A portrait of the foreign-born population, 2006 census. Ottawa, Canada: Statistics Canada.

Cuéllar, I., Arnold, B., & Maldonado, R. (1995). Acculturation rating scale for Mexican Americans-II: A revision of the original ARSMA scale. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 17(3), 275-304. doi:10.1177/07399863950173001

Koneru, V. K., Weisman de Mamani, A. G., Flynn, P. M., & Betancourt, H. (2007). Acculturation and mental health: Current findings and recommendations for future research. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 12, 76-96. doi:10.1016/j.appsy.2007.07.016

Malenfant, E. C., Lebel, A., & Martel, L. (2010). Projections of the Diversity of the Canadian Population, 2006 to 2031. Ottawa, Canada: Statistics Canada.

Schwartz, S. J., Unger, J. B., Zamboanga, B. L., & Szapocznik, J. (2010). Rethinking the concept of acculturation: Implications for theory and research. American Psychologist, 65(4), 237-251. doi:10.1037/a0019330