Investigates acculturation to Hispanic and American cultures as expressed by Latino adolescent immigrants. Study participants were 123 junior and senior high school students enrolled in Washington, D.C. area public schools; the majority was from El Salvador. Survey instruments included demographic questionnaires as well as scales based on the Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire and the Behavioral Acculturation Scale, subscales of the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (dealing with scholastic competence, social acceptance, and global self-worth), and a perceived Family Competence subscale developed by the authors. Among the findings were that: (1) greater involvement in one culture correlated with less involvement in the other over time; (2) acculturation to American culture was a predictor of acceptance by non-Latinos but not of scholastic competence; (3) acculturation to Hispanic culture was associated with positive self-perceptions of competence with Latinopeers; and (4) perceptions of family competence were predicted by acculturation to American and not Hispanic culture. The study findings do not unequivocally support the theory of biculturalism, because individuals will face culture clashes and adapt differently. Further research across different cultures would illuminate the interplay of acculturation styles. (49 references)
