When East Moves West: The Acculturation of Values of Chinese Adolescents in the U.S. and Australia

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Abstract
The acculturation of values was studied among high school youths of Chinese ancestry in the U.S. and Australia. Eight domains of values were derived from Chinese and Western value scales. Within the U.S. and Australian samples, the values of first- and second-generation youths of Chinese origin were compared to one another, to the samples of Euro-Anglo youths in each host culture, and to an anchor group of Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Results were similar in both acculturation contexts, with acculturation quite marked among the first-generation of Chinese adolescents and proceeding gradually in the second generation. The rate and extent of acculturation, however, depended on the value. The domain of tradition showed rapid and complete acculturation. Valuing the family as residential unit exhibited marked change across generations of Chinese youths, but second-generation Chinese youths were still distinguished from Anglo-Australian and Euro-American adolescents in this domain. In discriminant analyses, the value scores succeeded in distinguishing ethnic/generation groups with better-than-chance accuracy. Results are interpreted in terms of adolescent priorities and identity formation.