Relationship between acculturation gap and adjustment : exploring the mediating effects of perceived rejection, value conflict, and communication / by Jasmine Bajwa.

Abstract

"Numerous studies have found that children adjust to the mainstream culture at a faster rate than their parents; this is termed an acculturation gap. The literature demonstrates that acculturation gap is associated with increased conflict in the family and reduced well-being in children; one recent theory suggests that this occurs as a result of incongruent values and communication problems with parents (Hwang, 2006). The primary goal of this study was to examine whether acculturation gap was associated with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms in first and second generation immigrants from a variety ethnic backgrounds. Another goal of this research was to examine whether multiple mediators (specifically, parent rejection, peer rejection, incongruent cultural values, and communication problems) could account for the relationship between acculturation gap and risk taking behaviours and well-being.