Exploring network derived indicators of acculturation among college enrolled Latinxs: Examining language use and homophily in support networks

Abstract

Acculturation measures focus on the perceived composition of a person's social networks as a characteristic of cultural change but have not focused on specific social relationships as sources of evaluation. The current study explores network‐derived indicators of acculturation and determines the viability of network acculturation as a related, but distinct, construct from enculturation. A first‐order ego network electronic survey design was used to gather social network and traditional survey data from a sample of college‐enrolled Latinxs using name generator and name interpreter questions. Findings indicate low but statistically significant correlations between network indicators of acculturation and enculturation as hypothesized. No group differences in network acculturation were observed between generational statuses despite demonstrated differences in psychological enculturation. The low but statistically significant relationships between enculturation and network acculturation suggest conceptually related but distinct indicators of acculturation. Latinx homophily was the strongest predictor of enculturation, revealing the importance of network characteristics.

Acculturation and negative relationships as determinants of well-being: Using the convoy model for understanding the influence of social relationships among Latinx young adults.

“…This study builds on the previous work by Archuleta and Dajani (2021) by examining the individual and network influences of acculturation on health-related outcomes. The present study moves the previous work forward by focusing on stress-evoking rather than supportive relationships as sources of acculturative conflict and connecting them to Latinx young adults’ psychological well-being.…”

“…Again, this finding contradicts what is often observed among Latinxs, who benefit from a higher level of cultural maintenance (Ferguson & Birman, 2016). Experiences with acculturation (e.g., greater discrimination) in new destination communities may differ from those experienced in traditional destination communities (Archuleta & Dajani, 2021; Brietzke & Perreira, 2017), who may have less of a cultural buffer compared to those living in traditional destination communities.…”

“…This distinction suggests that a person’s psychological acculturation experiences may differ from their assessment of acculturation related to specific individuals within their networks. Individual measures of acculturation reflect a person’s general perceptions of their culture and intercultural relationships, whereas network acculturation reflects a person’s specific embeddedness within a network of individuals (Archuleta & Dajani, 2021).…”

“…Network language use, along with measures of network homophily, have been used to capture the structural aspects of acculturation among Latinx young adults (Archuleta & Dajani, 2021). Network language use was measured using a name interpreter question asking respondents to identify stress-evoking relationships.…”

“…Acculturation reflects the cultural changes that occur when distinct cultural groups interact directly, resulting in the need for one or both groups to adapt (Berry, 2006). Social relationships maintain a complex role in the acculturation process by creating individual and network influences that impact a person’s connection to their cultural heritage and support integration into culturally diverse social networks (Archuleta & Dajani, 2021; Ayón & Naddy, 2013). However, researchers have noted that acculturation—adapting to a new cultural environment via interacting with culturally diverse groups—is often fraught with difficulties (Berry, 2006).…”