Extensions of Acculturation Gap: An Examination of Actual and Perceived Acculturation Gaps in Migrant Families

For many migrants, the process of acculturation takes place within a family context. Do parents and children experience the same acculturation process, or is there a generational gap? The presence of such an acculturation gap has been associated with poor psychological and sociocultural outcomes. Importantly, researchers typically operationalize the acculturation gap from the perspective of the child, comparing children`s self-reported acculturation with their perceived acculturation of parents. Using the bi-dimensional model of acculturation, the present study asked parents and adolescents to report on their own levels of (actual) acculturation towards the heritage and host culture. In addition, parents rated their child`s (perceived) acculturation and adolescents rated their parent`s (perceived) acculturation towards both cultures. This design allows us to examine and distinguish both actual and perceived acculturations gaps in families. Looking at the self-report measures, we found a gap towards both cultures. Parents endorsed the heritage culture more strongly than their children. But the adolescents endorsed the host culture more strongly than their parents. Although both parents and adolescents favoured the heritage culture, this difference was more pronounced for parents. Interestingly, parents` and children`s perceived acculturation gap was similar to the actual gap.

Key words: acculturation, acculturation gap, migration