Acculturation, Communication Patterns, and Self-Esteem among Asian and Caucasian American Adolescents: A Cross-Cultural Study

Janet Chang
California State University, San Bernardino
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino CA 92407
USA
Phone: 909-880-5184
FAX: 909-880-7029
Email: jchang@csusb.edu
 
Siyon Rhee
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles CA 90032
USA
Phone: 323-343-4687
FAX: 323-343-5009
Email: srhee@calstatela.edu
 
Purpose: The purpose of this study is 1) to examine the level of acculturation and self-esteem, peer interaction, and patterns of parent-child communication, 2)to investigate predictors of self-esteem, and 3) to describe the differences and similarities in self-esteem and its contributing factors among Asian and Caucasian American adolescents.

Methods: The data were collected from 99 Asian and 90 Caucasian adolescent (a total of 189 adolescents) from a high school located in the surburb of a metropolitan area in fall, 2001. A systematic non-probability sampling was employed and self-administered questionnaires were administered to 9th through 12th grade adolescents. Major independent variables included demographic/socioeconomic variables, level of acculturation, peer interaction, and patterns of parent-child communication and the dependent variable was the level of self-esteem.

Results: There were significant ethnic differences in the level of acculturation, patterns of communication with parents, peer interaction, and self-esteem: Asian adolecents in the study were likely to be less acculturated, to have greater difficulty in communication with their parents, particularly with their father, to have lower levels of peer interaction, and to have lower self-esteem than their Caucasian counterparts. Separate multiple regression analysis with each ethnic group revealed that two variables, openness of communication with parents and fewer number of sbilings predicted positive self-esteem of both groups. However, for the Asian adolescents, an additional variable, acculturation level also was a significant predictor of self-esteem.

Implications for Practice: It is critical for practitioners to note the importance of the quality of communication between parents and chidlren across both cultural groups in promoting self-esteem among adolescents. In particular, Asian adolescents with immigrant backgrounds are apt to be pressured to adopt mainstream norms and values as well as to meet dual parental demands of academic success and adherence to their traditional norms and cultural heritage. Practitioners working with Asian adolescents need to understand such ethnocultural dynamics and address the adolescents' feelings of confusion, anger or lack of trust in parents. They need to inform parents of the effects of excessive demands of academic success and adherence to traditional norms and values on self-esteem and psychological well-being of their adolescent children.