The interplay between values, acculturation and adaptation: A study on Turkish‐Belgian adolescents

Derya Güngör is a fellow post‐doctoral researcher in ERCOMER (The European Research Center on Migration and Ethnic Relations), Utrecht University, The Netherlands. This study was carried out while the author was affiliated to Ankara University in Turkey and financially supported by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) within the framework of a postdoctoral scholarship program. The data was collected with the collaboration of the Limburg Provincial Integration Center (PRIC) in Hasselt, Belgium. With special thanks to Professors Karen Phalet, Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı, and Olcay İmamoğlu for their critical comments at different stages of the manuscript. Also thanks to the anonymous reviewers.

Abstract

Although there is a bulk of evidence for the relations between values, acculturation, and adaptation, the interrelations between these key concepts of the acculturation literature have not yet been investigated simultaneously. The present study proposes a model connecting value orientations (separatedness and conformity) to adaptation outcomes (sociocultural and psychological). Furthermore, this link was hypothesized to be strengthened by an indirect relationship where acculturation strategies (culture maintenance and culture adoption) would relate certain values to certain aspects of adaptation. The model was tested on 287 Turkish‐Belgian adolescents with an average age of 16.27 years (SD = 1.86 years). SEM analysis confirmed the hypothesized indirect links underlining the crucial role of acculturation strategies as mediators in the adaptation process. Separatedness predicted sociocultural adaptation via culture adoption whereas conformity impacted psychological adaptation via culture maintenance. In addition, separatedness predicted poorer psychological adaptation. Results were discussed with reference to inverse benefits and costs of individualism and collectivism.

Derya Güngör is a fellow post‐doctoral researcher in ERCOMER (The European Research Center on Migration and Ethnic Relations), Utrecht University, The Netherlands. This study was carried out while the author was affiliated to Ankara University in Turkey and financially supported by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) within the framework of a postdoctoral scholarship program. The data was collected with the collaboration of the Limburg Provincial Integration Center (PRIC) in Hasselt, Belgium. With special thanks to Professors Karen Phalet, Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı, and Olcay İmamoğlu for their critical comments at different stages of the manuscript. Also thanks to the anonymous reviewers.

Malgré la masse de l'évidence concernant les relations entre les valeurs, l'acculturation et l'adaptation, les interrelations entre ces concepts‐clé de la litérature n'ont pas été investiguées simultanément. La présente étude propose un modèle qui connecte les orientations de valeurs (différentiation et conformisme) aux résultats de l'adaptation (socioculturels et psychologiques). De plus, nous avons émis l'hypothèse que ce lien serait renforcé par une relation indirecte où les stratégies d'acculturation (maintien de la culture et adoption de la culture) relieraient certaines valeurs à certains aspects de l'adaptation. Le modèle a été testé sur 287 adolescents turco‐belges ayant un âge moyen de 16.27 ans (SD = 1.86 ans). Une analyse de modélisation par équation structurelle a confirmé les hypothèses de liens indirects sous‐jacents au rôle crucial des stratégies d'acculturation comme étant des médiateurs dans le processus d'adaptation. La différentiation a prédit l'adaptation socioculturelle à travers l'adoption de la culture alors que le conformisme a eu un impact sur l'adaptation psychologique à travers le maintien de la culture. De plus, la différentiation a prédit une plus faible adaptation psychologique. Les résultats sont discutés en référence aux bénéfices inverses et aux coûts de l'individualisme et du collectivisme.

A pesar de la existencia de una gran cantidad de datos sobre las relaciones entre valores, aculturación y adaptación, las relaciones entre estos conceptos clave de la literatura sobre aculturación no se han investigado simultáneamente. El presente estudio propone un modelo que conecta la orientación de los valores (separación y conformidad) a los resultados de la adaptación (socioculturales y psicológicos). Es más, se sugirió como hipótesis que este vínculo se fortalecería mediante la relación indirecta en la que las estrategias de aculturación (mantenimiento de la cultura y adopción de la cultura) relacionaran ciertos valores con ciertos aspectos de la adaptación. Se sometió a prueba el modelo en 287 adolescentes turco‐belgas con una edad promedio de 16.27 años (DE = 1.86 años). El modelo de ecuaciones estructurales confirmó la hipótesis de que los vínculos indirectos, subyacentes al papel crucial que desempeñan las estrategias de aculturación, fungen como mediadores en el proceso de adaptación. La separación predijo la adaptación sociocultural mediante la adopción de la cultura, en tanto que la conformidad impactó la adaptación psicológica mediante el mantenimiento de la cultura. Además, la separación predijo una adaptación psicológica más precaria. Los resultados se discuten con respecto a los beneficios y costes invertidos del individualismo y el colectivismo.

Notes

Derya Güngör is a fellow post‐doctoral researcher in ERCOMER (The European Research Center on Migration and Ethnic Relations), Utrecht University, The Netherlands. This study was carried out while the author was affiliated to Ankara University in Turkey and financially supported by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) within the framework of a postdoctoral scholarship program. The data was collected with the collaboration of the Limburg Provincial Integration Center (PRIC) in Hasselt, Belgium. With special thanks to Professors Karen Phalet, Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı, and Olcay İmamoğlu for their critical comments at different stages of the manuscript. Also thanks to the anonymous reviewers.