Adaptation and Validation of a Short Acculturation Scale in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population

Abstract

The Short Acculturation Scale (SAS) has been widely used for assessing the level of the acculturation of migrants in Western countries. However, the validity of SAS for use in cosmopolitan settings without a single prevailing culture is unclear. We examined the validity and reliability of a version of the SAS adapted to a multi-ethnic Asian society. We used cross-sectional data from 12,610 Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, aged 21–75 years, of Chinese, Malay, and Indian ethnicity. Our version used 11 items, with 5 questions on language use, 3 on media use, and 3 on ethnic social relations, to measure acculturation. Our version of the SAS had good internal consistency. The three-factor CFA model had a good fit to our data. The results from the multiple group CFA supported metric invariance and partial scalar invariance across the three ethnic groups. The total score was positively correlated with generation in Singapore and the number of languages spoken. Among first generation immigrants, country of origin, but not the duration of residence was significantly associated with the acculturation score. Our three-factor version of the SAS is a reliable and valid tool for measuring acculturation in Singapore residents. These findings indicate that adapted SAS can be used to assess acculturation in multicultural settings.

Acculturation as a Determinant of Obesity and Related Lifestyle Behaviors in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population

“…Previously, we adapted and validated the acculturation scale, using the 12-item SAS for Hispanics, originally developed to assess the level of acculturation of Hispanics in the U.S. and widely used for Asians in the US [ 26 ]. Based on the confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), our adapted version was found to be valid and reliable in measuring the acculturation level in the multicultural Singapore population [ 26 ]. Our scale includes three subscales with 11 items: language use (5 items), medical use (3 items), and ethnic social relations (3 items).…”

“…Higher scores indicate higher levels of acculturation. The questionnaire and scoring method can be found in Park et al [ 26 ] and Table S1 .…”

Effectiveness of Pender's Model-Based Program on Acculturative Stress, Lifestyle, and Social Adjustment among International University Students

“…This process is known as acculturation and is relevant to students who face a combination of academic and cultural challenges (Hwang, and Oh 2020; Schlaudt, Suarez-Morales, and Black, 2021). Acculturation may influence the mental and physical health of IS who are facing daily cultural struggles with issues related to money, housing conditions, juggling work and family obligations, food, language barriers, and learning styles (Park et al, 2021).…”

Assessment of diet composition of Pakistani ethnic groups in the UK – does dietary pattern change between 1st and 2nd generations?

“…The primary purpose of this study was to investigate intergenerational disparities in food preferences among Pakistani immigrants and the impact of dietary acculturation.This cross-sectional study examined the food habits and acculturation experiences of 51 first (1G) and 51 second-generation (2G) participants of the Pakistani community living in London. Data was collected using survey questionnaires modified from previous studies (3,4) . We compared traditional foods like paratha and samosa with Western options like fish and chips through a set of questions, from which a dietary score was calculated (Global scale) (5) .…”