the family context of acculturation + adolescent mental...
TRANSCRIPT
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