Adaptation Strategies and Cultural Life Styles of Mexican American Adolescents

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Abstract
To determine the effect of different environments on the acculturation of Mexican American adolescents, an investi gation was conducted of the adaptation strategies utilized by students in an urban and suburban high school. A ques tionnaire was administered to 80 subjects (39 urban, 41 suburban) to determine the degree of acculturation on a Likert-type scale. Twelve students were then selected as being the two most nativist (Mexican-oriented), the two most intermediate (Chicano-oriented), and the two most acculturated (Anglo-oriented) students from each school. In-depth case studies focusing on differences in life styles were completed on the 12 students. Results indicate that urban students experience more stress in acculturation, although the Mexican-oriented students exhibit more con fidence in their ethnic identification and do better aca demically. Suburban Mexican-oriented students often have difficulty in practicing their chosen cultural life styles. Suburban Chicano- and Anglo-oriented students lean more toward the Anglo side of the acculturation continuum but still participate in subcultural (gang-related) activities.