The relationship between parental and adolescent acculturation and Hmong adolescent psychological well-being
Author(s):
Xiong, Dang Daniel
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : Alliant International University, San Diego, 2005.
Pages:
236
Language:
English
Abstract:
This study investigated the prediction that there would be significant relationships between parental acculturation, adolescent acculturation, parental perceptions of adolescent acculturation, and adolescent perceptions of parental acculturation and Hmong adolescent psychological well-being among 86 Hmong high school age children, ages 14 to 18. This study also investigated the demographic variables of age, gender, adolescents' level of education, region of residence, place of birth, birth order, sibling composition, family composition, parents' marital status, parent living with, most influential parent, family annual income, length of family stay in the US, length of adolescent stay in the US, religious practice, parenting styles, and perceived parental acculturation in relation to Hmong adolescent psychological well-being. Five research hypotheses were tested in this study. Hypothesis 1, 2, 3, and 4 predicted significant relationships between parental acculturation, adolescent acculturation, parental perceptions of adolescent acculturation, and adolescent perceptions of parental acculturation, respectively, and Hmong adolescent psychological well-being. Hypothesis 5 predicted a significant interaction effect among the variables of acculturation in the prediction of Hmong adolescent psychological well-being. Acculturation was measured using the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA). Hmong adolescent psychological well-being was measured with seven scales of the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). The results did not support hypotheses 1, 2, and 3. The results of hypothesis 4 indicated that Hmong adolescents who perceived their parents as more acculturated into the culture, attitudes, lifestyles, and behavior of the Western society reported more oppositional problems and anxious feelings than those who perceived their parents as more Asianized. The results on demographic variables indicated that age, region of residence, parents' marital status, and parent living significantly related to Hmong adolescent psychological well-being. The results further revealed that level of education, place of birth, religious affiliation or practice, and parenting styles were marginally associated with Hmong adolescent psychological well-being. Although parental acculturation, adolescent acculturation, and parental perception of adolescent acculturation did not significantly correlate with Hmong adolescent psychological well-being, adolescent perceptions of parental acculturation was found to be a good indicator of oppositional behavior and anxious feelings among Hmong adolescents. Implications and recommendation were also discussed.