NCJ Number
218644
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: May 2007 Pages: 555-565
Date Published
May 2007
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study compared the several commonly-used self-report acculturation measures among a sample of Hispanic/Latino adolescents.
Abstract
Findings indicated that the acculturation scales differed significantly, indicating that the conclusions of a study might differ depending on which acculturation scale is used for measurement. The results of this analysis suggest that if possible, multiple acculturation scales be administered during the course of a study in order to capture the varied dimensions of acculturation. The authors further suggest that efforts should be made toward refining and operationalizing the complex construct of acculturation so that one survey measure can accurately represent it. Future research should include acculturation measures in surveys of adolescents so that associations between acculturation and various other risk and protective factors can be examined. Participants were 221 Hispanic/Latino students recruited for the study through their ninth grade classes at a public school in Los Angeles, CA during April 2005. English and Spanish versions of the survey collected information about demographic characteristics, drug use, acculturation, peer characteristics, and family characteristics. Included in the survey were three different multi-item measures all designed to measure U.S./White orientation and Hispanic/Latino orientation: the Orthogonal Culture Identification Scale, the ARSMA-II, and the AHIMSA. Statistical data analyses included the use of frequencies, means, and Pearson correlations. Additional research is required for agreement on which scale best captures the essential elements of acculturation among adolescents. Tables, references