1-075 - The Role of Acculturation in the Socialization of Immigrant Parents

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

In socialization their children to overcome the challenges unique to immigrant families, one major task for immigrant parents is to reconcile the differences in the parenting expectations, goals and strategies of their heritage and the mainstream cultures (Bornstein & Cote, 2010). The goal of the present symposium is to explore the role of acculturation in the adaptation and socialization of immigrant parents in various countries across four papers using quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
The first paper compares the long-term socialization goals of immigrant mothers from an interdependent-focused culture (Turkey) residing in two independent-focused countries (Netherlands and Germany) with mothers from the host cultures. The second paper examines how immigrant mothers from various ethnic backgrounds (Asian, African, and Eastern European) in Italy engage in different ethnic socialization practices towards their children, depending on their cultural identity and acculturation strategies. The third paper explores the influence of acculturation on the extent to which Latino immigrant mothers in the U.S. experience psychological distress and how these mothers structure their home environment to support the development of their children’s early literacy skills. Finally, the fourth paper compares Chinese immigrant mothers with four acculturation styles on their perceptions of their negative and positive immigration experiences, and children’s adaptation in the U.S. Together, these papers shed light on the nuanced ways that acculturation impacts immigrant parents’ adjustment and socialization of their children. Each paper will discuss how immigrant parents attempt to maximize their children’s successful adaptation in their respective receiving societies.

Sub Unit

• Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Chairs

• Christy YuetYu Leung, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

• Charissa Siew Lyng Cheah, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Individual Presentations

• Long-Term Socialization Goals and Acculturation Strategies of Turkish Immigrant and Mainstream Mothers in Western Europe - Presenting Author: Elif Durgel Jagtap, Tilburg University; Fons van de Vijver, University of Tilburg; Birgit Leyendecker, Psychology Department; Bilge Yagmurlu, Koc University

• Ethnic Socialization Practices in Immigrant Families in Palermo - Presenting Author: Maria Grazia Lo Cricchio, University of Palermo, Italy; Alida Lo Coco, 360KID

• Acculturation, Parenting, the Home Environment and Educational Outcomes for Young Latino Children - Presenting Author: JoAnn M Farver, Univ of Southern California; Rosa I Toro, California State University, Fresno

• U.S. Chinese Immigrant Mothers’ Migration Experiences and Perceptions of their Children’s Adaptation - Presenting Author: Christy YuetYu Leung, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Charissa Siew Lyng Cheah, University of Maryland, Baltimore County