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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of a brief language usage scale as a measure of acculturation in 197 Central American immigrant women. This study presents an analysis of cross-sectional survey data collected during face-to-face interviews conducted in Spanish as part of the program evaluation of the Infant Feeding for Hispanic Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Populations a Peer Education Model. The Short Acculturation Scale, a four-item language usage scale exploring the participants' language preferences, was used as a measure of acculturation. The participant's age, length of time in the United States, and perceived social support for breastfeeding were used as validation measures. Results demonstrated good internal reliability for the acculturation summary scale. Consistent with previous studies, significant correlations (p < 0.01) were found between acculturation and mother's age, perceived social support for breastfeeding, and mother's length of time in the United States. The reliability and validity data from this group of Central American immigrants support the continued use of this brief measure of acculturation in diverse Latino subpopulations when multidimensional measures are neither practical nor feasible.

Spiritual Well-Being in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Survivors of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

“…The Short Acculturation Scale is a 4-item questionnaire that assesses Spanish and English language usage in respondents’ daily lives (Wallen, Feldman, & Anliker, 2002). Responses indicate self-reported language acculturation, which may reflect the degree to which Hispanic participants identify with their native cultures versus their non-native host cultures (Norris, Ford, & Bova, 1996).…”

Discrepancies in Race and Ethnicity Documentation: a Potential Barrier in Identifying Racial and Ethnic Disparities

“…Those that lived in the USA had been there for approximately 12 years (±10.67). On a scale from 4 to 20, their mean acculturation score using the short acculturation scale (SAS) of those who identified as Hispanic was 5.5 (±3.07); lower scores indicate less acculturation [17]. Acculturation (the process of learning and adapting to a new culture) was measured by obtaining the proxy measures: length of time in the USA and English-language proficiency [18].…”

Actor–Partner Interdependence Model Analysis of Sexual Communication and Relationship/Family Planning Factors Among Immigrant Latino Couples in the United States

“…Moreover, all of them chose to complete the questionnaires in Spanish. Less than 10 years since emigration is considered newly immigrated to a host country (Harvey et al, 2009), and Spanish as the language of command is an indicator of lower acculturation level (Wallen, Feldman, & Anliker, 2002). There is an growing debate on multidimensional nature of acculturation (behaviors, attitudes, values, and language acquisition) that may not have been captured by language as a sole indication of acculturation (Lopez-Class et al, 2011).…”