Relations between acculturation orientations and antisocial behavior in adolescents and young adults from immigrant families

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional school-based cohort study was to explore the relations between acculturation orientations and antisocial behavior in adolescents from immigrant families. Among 972 French high-school students, 251 were first- second- and third-generation immigrant adolescents. Adolescents with immigrant background reported higher levels of antisocial behavior than non-immigrant adolescents. Separation (rejection of the host culture) had the highest rates of endorsement after integration (biculturalism) and showed a unique association with antisocial behavior after controlling for other cultural, psychopathological and socio-familial variables.

Keywords:

• acculturation orientations
• ethnic identity
• self-reported antisocial behavior
• adolescents

Notes on contributors

Nikki van Leeuwen, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and an adjunct faculty at the University of Toulouse-Le Mirail, France. Her research focuses on adolescent psychopathology and the influences of culture and society on different concerns such as suicide and depression.

Rachel Rodgers received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Université de Toulouse-Le Mirail, France. She is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor in Applied Counseling Psychology at Northeastern University, Boston. To date, she has published over 50 research papers and book chapters in the field of eating disorders, body image and adolescent psychopathology.

Eric Bui received is MD and PhD in Neurosciences from the Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. He is currently a research fellow in psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. To date, he has published over 50 research papers and book chapters in the field of personality disorders, psychosomatics and anxiety disorders.

Gérard Pirlot, MD, PhD, is a psychiatrist and a professor of intercultural psychology at the University of Touluse-Le Mirail. His research focuses on addiction, alexythymia and psychosomatics.

Henri Chabrol, MD, PhD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and a professor of psychopathology at the University of Toulouse-Le Mirail. He focuses his clinical work and research activities on adolescent psychopathology in particular addictions, antisocial behavior and personality disorders. He as published over 200 research papers.