An acculturation scale for Mexican American populations introduced by Cuellar, Harris and Jasso (1980) was cross-validated on a sample of 450 Mexican Americans and Anglo college students in south Texas. The results closely corresponded to the original normative data provided by Cuellar, et al., although the population of the present study was markedly different. Internal consistency of the scale was high, and a factor analysis yielded the same four factors identified by Cuellar, et al. The four factors included (a) language preference, (b) ethnic identity and generation removed from Mexico, (c) ethnicity of friends and associates, and (d) extent of direct contact with Mexico and with abilitv to read and write in Spanish. The findings also neatly supported work by others done in the area of empirically defining the concept of acculturation. For example, the findings were consistent with those that have reported that measures of behavioral acculturation are reliable and those that have suggested that individuals who are not Anglo-oriented may occupy a relatively imiarginal position in United States society.

Previous researchers have concluded that differences in MMPI performance between Anglo and Mexican American surnamed subjects were due to cultural differences. The present research directly investigated this assumption by comparing MMPI scale score differences of 365 Anglo and Mexican American college students, with Acculturation, Age, and Socioeconomic status statistically controlled. Anglos scored significantly differently from Mexican American subjects on 10 of the 13 MMPI scales. With Acculturation and Age statistically controlled, however, Anglo vs. Mexican American subjects differed on only the L and MF scales. These results support previous conclusions that most MMPI differences between Anglo and Mexican American subjects are due to culture, or Acculturation. Our results are consistent with major findings within the MMPI literature and also support the hypothesis that personality differences identified by the L and MF scales reflect genuine characteristics of the Mexican‐American culture.

Mexican American and Anglo American's performance on the Wiggins Content Scales, Harris-Lingoes subscales, and Serkownek subscales was assessed in a college student population. Level of acculturation (Mexican vs. Anglo orientation), age, and social class were statistically controlled. The results showed statistically significant differences between means of Anglo and Mexican Americans on most of the supplemental scales assessed. These differences were more numerous before scale validity criteria were applied. The number of statistically significant differences were further reduced when level of acculturation and age were statistically controlled. The results showed that level of acculturation is a highly important variable which moderates interpretation of the MMPI scale elevations we measured. Acculturation far outweighed the influence of the well established MMPI moderator variables of age and social class.

This study focused on providing a descriptive analysis of patterns of family interaction among bilingual, bicultural Mexican Americans, as provided by the disabled family member. Through a six month follow-up of subjects the study explored the predictive relationship between scores on the Family Environment Scale (FES), and a criterion variable: counselor 6 month rating of progress toward vocational potential. Results were compared with those provided in the original normative study by Moos and Moos (1981), showing statistically significant mean differences (p.05) on 9 of the 10 FES subscales. Correlational analyses also indicated a significant relationship between 6 month rating of progress toward vocational potential and Expressiveness (r=.38, p =.01).