Structure of Acculturation Attitudes and their Relationships with Personality and Psychological Adaptation: A Study with Immigrant and National Samples in Germany

Authors

Paul G. Schmitz, University of Bonn
John W. Berry, Queen’s University

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

This contribution deals with the structure of acculturation attitudes and their relationship with personality dimensions and psychological adaptation. Based on two German samples—an immigrant and a national one— evidence suggests that four independent factors are underlying acculturation styles as assessed with the Acculturation Attitudes Styles (AAS). Integration, Assimilation, Separation, and Marginalization are independent, lowly correlated constructs and represent distinct modes of coping with acculturation demands. Analyses also demonstrate that each acculturation factor shows a specific pattern of personality characteristics, including basic temperament dimensions, cognitive styles, coping, and components of emotional intelligence. Finally, the four acculturation styles can predict psychological adaptation such as wellbeing, happiness, etc. Integration is the most adaptive acculturation strategy, whereas Separation and Marginalization most strongly predict negative outcomes.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.4087/YGKD3122

ScholarWorks Citation

Schmitz, P. G., & Berry, J. W. (2011). Structure of Acculturation Attitudes and their relationships with personality and psychological adaptation: A study with immigrant and national samples in Germany. In F. Deutsch, M. Boehnke, U. Kühnen, & K. Boehnke (Eds.), Rendering borders obsolete: Cross-cultural and cultural psychology as an interdisciplinary, multi-method endeavor: Proceedings from the 19th International Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. https://doi.org/10.4087/YGKD3122