Reconsidering the "Acculturation Gap": Mother-Adolescent Cultural Adaptation Mis/Matches and Positive Psychosocial Outcomes among Mexican-Origin Families

When and how do parent-child acculturation gaps matter? A systematic review and recommendations for research and practice

Parents and youth often adjust to new cultures at differing rates, resulting in parent-child acculturation gaps. The acculturation-gap distress hypothesis theorizes that these differences may negatively impact the child, parent, and family; however, findings remain inconsistent. In this systematic review, we provide an up-to-date synthesis of existing research on the parent-child acculturation gap among immigrant families and whether and when children's social and psychological outcomes, parenting, and family functioning are impacted. Further, we build upon the differential nuances of the culture of the gap-receiving or heritage-that relate to these outcomes. A systematic search in five databases for relevant studies up to January 15, 2025 resulted in a total of 98 included records. Contrary to the acculturation gap-distress hypothesis, more than half of the included studies indicated no association between the receiving and heritage culture parent-child gap and child, parenting, or family outcomes. We discuss notable exceptions to this pattern, indicating when and how family and child outcomes may be implicated. We conclude with clinical and research recommendations to guide future approaches for understanding the relevance of parent-child acculturation gaps for family and child outcomes.

Risk, resilience and family relationships among at-risk Ethiopian immigrant youth in Israel: A focus group investigation

Despite the pivotal role that parents play in their adolescent children's lives, intervention programs aimed at at-risk, immigrant youth have often neglected the role of the parents. Informed by an ecological perspective, the current study explored how the intersecting experiences of parents and adolescents in the Ethiopian immigrant community in Israel inform adolescent risk and resilience. A sample of 55 parents and adolescent children, who were involved in a program serving at-risk families, and eight service providers participated in five focus groups. Grounded theory analyses of transcripts provided insights into family processes in which the experience of disenfranchisement of parents (due to societal and familial processes) transacts with feelings of isolation and withdrawal of their adolescent children. We documented five issues that reinforced this core pattern: Stigma and discrimination, cultural and language differences between parents and youth, disempowerment in interactions with authorities, parental role strain, and negative influence of the neighborhood. We also documented three resilience processes that counter this pattern (community cohesion, cultural socialization and ethnic and cultural pride, and vigilant parental monitoring). Results suggest a need for family-based intervention programs that can counter reinforcing cycles of disenfranchisement and build on families' resilience resources.

Home is Where the Heart is: Implications of Dyadic Acculturation for Migrant Couples' Personal and Relational Well-Being

Acculturation-the process through which people adopt the sociocultural values of their heritage and settlement cultures-is a complex experience, particularly within family structures. Although the consequences of acculturation gaps between parents and children have been studied extensively, the consequences for migrant couples are often overlooked. We propose that acculturation gaps in migrant couples are likely detrimental for personal and relational well-being. To test this, a study of 118 migrant couples with the same heritage culture and now living in the United Kingdom was conducted. Acculturation gaps in our studies were conceptualized as both within person and within couple, and their impact on personal well-being and relationship quality was tested using Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Results suggest that although within-couple acculturation gaps negatively impacted personal well-being, they were not necessarily harmful to relationship quality. Interestingly, within-person acculturation gaps had dyadic consequences, with one person specifically contributing to their partner's personal well-being.