Is Integration the Best Way to Acculturate? A Reexamination of the Bicultural-Adaptation Relationship in the “ICSEY Dataset” Using the Bilineal Method

Abstract

The present study reexamined the relationship between biculturalism and adaptation in the ICSEY¹ data. The sample consisted of 5,365 immigrants, aged between 13 and 18 years (M = 15.35, SD = 1.56) who were living in 13 different countries. We measured biculturalism bilineally using a range of ICSEY variables akin to acculturation. The study findings revealed that biculturalism was the most preferred acculturation mode across countries and within most of the countries. Biculturalism was positively related to two out of three psychological adaptation measures and one out of two sociocultural adaptation measures across and within most participating countries. The pattern of relationship remained true after controlling for perceived discrimination in the analyses.

Keywords

acculturation integration biculturalism adaptation immigrants ICSEY

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