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