Predicting adolescents’ acculturation by motivation for ethno- cultural continuity and parental acculturation T. Ryabichenko (NRU HSE), N. Lebedeva (NRU HSE), I. Plotka (BPMUC, Latvia)
Jan 12, 2016
Predicting adolescents’ acculturation by motivation for ethno-cultural
continuity and parental acculturationT. Ryabichenko (NRU HSE), N. Lebedeva (NRU HSE), I. Plotka (BPMUC, Latvia)
ProblemCultural continuity is important for current group dynamics. When
people experience a threat to the continuity of their in-group identity they are prone to become negative towards developments and groups that are considered to be the source of this threat (Smeekes & Verkuyten, 2014).
Motivation for Ethno-cultural Continuity (MEC): the active engagement of ethno-cultural group members in cultural endurance (Gezentsvey et al., 2013).
HOWEVER: MEC was not related to assimilation (Gezentsvey et al., 2013)
Our study
Possible explanations:1.Acculturation strategies (only assimilation)2.Intergenerational effects
Design:1.Berry’s four acculturation strategies2.Two generations of Latvian Russians
HypothesesWithin generationsMEC positively related to separation and integration, and
negatively related to marginalization and assimilation in both generations.
Between generations MEC of parents positively related to MEC of their children.Acculturation strategies of parents positively related to the
same strategies of their children. MEC of parents positively related to separation and
integration, and negatively related to marginalization and assimilation of their children.
Study in Latvia
Generation N%
female
% born in
Latvia
Age
Min Max Mе
Parents (mothers) 112 95 75 35 59 42
Adolescents 112 68 94 16 24 17
We aren’t Russian Latvians, we are Latvian Russians
Equal taxes, equal rights
Scales • Acculturation strategies (MIRIPS)• Life satisfaction (MIRIPS)• Self-esteem (MIRIPS)• MEC, 5 items (from CFA):1. Continuing to practice my Russian traditions and celebrations is
important to me.2. Ultimately, I would like my children to identify as Russians.3. Long term, I would like my grandchildren and great-grandchildren
to continue our Russian heritage.4. I want to transmit to my children a love for and interest in their
Russian heritage.5. I think it’s good to create an environment at home where my
Russian traditions can be a normal part of life for my children.
MEC of parents
MEC of adolescents
Acculturation strategies of
parents
Acculturation strategies of adolescents
Life satisfaction
Self-esteem
Tested model
MEC of parents
MEC of adolescents
Assimilation of parents
Assimilation of
adolescents
Life satisfaction
Self-esteem
-.56***
.61***
.45***
.19 (n.s.)
-.39***
-.11 (n.s.)
-.57***
Assimilation model
χ2 =371; χ2 /df = 1.392; CFI =.930; RMSEA = .06; PCLOSE = .140
MEC of parents
MEC of adolescents
Marginalization of parents
Marginalization of adolescents
Life satisfaction
Self-esteem
-.37*
.20 (n.s.)
.45***
-.09 (n.s.)
-.35**
-.16 (n.s.)
-.74***
Marginalization model
χ2=365; χ2 /df = 1.367; CFI =.918; RMSEA = .058; PCLOSE = .194
MEC of parents
MEC of adolescents
Separation of parents
Separation of adolescents
Life satisfaction
Self-esteem
-.07 (n.s.)
.31*
.45***
.03 (n.s.)
.31*
-.05 (n.s.)
-.17 (n.s.)
Separation model
χ2 =479; χ2 /df = 1.304; CFI =.923; RMSEA = .053; PCLOSE = .369
MEC of parents
MEC of adolescents
Integration of parents
Integration of adolescents
Life satisfaction
Self-esteem
.25*
.07 (n.s.)
.45***
-.06 (n.s.)
.15 (n.s.)
-.12 (n.s.)
.38***
Integration model
χ2 =360; χ2 /df = 1.350; CFI =.930; RMSEA = .056; PCLOSE = .240
Assimilation Marginalization Separation Integration
MEC of parents MEC of adolescents
.45*** .45*** .45*** .45***
MEC of parents acculturation of parents
-.56*** -.37* -.07 .25*
MEC of parents acculturation of adolescents
.19 -.09 .03 -.06
MEC of adolescents acculturation of adolescents
-.39** -.35** .31* .15
Acculturation of parents acculturation of adolescents
.61*** .20 .31* .07
Acculturation of adolescents life satisfaction
-.11 -.16 -.05 -.12
Acculturation of adolescents Self-esteem
-.57*** -.74*** -.17 .38***
Main conclusionsStructural equivalence of MEC scale in Russian was found for 5 items in two
generations.Within generations:• MEC negatively related to assimilation and marginalization;• MEC positively related to integration of parents, and to separation of
adolescents. Between generations: • A direct effect of MEC of parents on acculturation strategies of adolescents
wasn’t found.• Assimilation and separation of parents positively related to same strategies of
adolescents.In addition,• Integration is the only acculturation strategy that positively related to self-
esteem of adolescents.
Thank you
1 Continuing to practice my Russian traditions and celebrations is important to me.2 Ultimately, I would like my children to identify as Russians .3 The future continuity of our Russian community is NOT a concern of mine.4 Maintaining my Russian heritage is NOT something I really care about.5 I would like to encourage my children to learn Russian.6 Long term, I would like my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to continue our
Russian heritage.7 I do NOT mind setting aside the traditions of my Russian heritage.8 I would like to keep on living according to the traditions of my Russian heritage.9 I want to transmit to my children a love for and interest in their Russian heritage.10 I think it’s good to create an environment at home where my Russian traditions
can be a normal part of life for my children.
P=0.033; CMIN/DF=1.800; CFI=.982; RMSEA=.060; PCLOSE=.295; ΔCFI=.003