Biculturalism dynamics: A daily diary study of bicultural identity and psychosocial functioning

Abstract

We examined two conceptualizations of bicultural identity-the Bicultural Identity Integration (BII) framework (cultural identity blendedness-distance and harmony-conflict) and cultural hybridizing and alternating (mixing one's two cultural identities and/or switching between them). Utilizing data from a 12-day diary study with 873 Hispanic college students, we examined three research questions: (1) cross-sectional and longitudinal intercorrelations among these biculturalism components, (2) links among daily variability in these biculturalism components, and (3) how this daily variability predicts well-being and mental health outcomes over time. Bicultural hybridizing was positively related to, and longitudinally predicted by, both BII blendedness and harmony. Daily fluctuation scores for BII blendedness, BII harmony, and bicultural hybridizing were strongly interrelated. Well-being was negatively predicted by fluctuations in hybridizing, whereas internalizing symptoms were positively predicted by fluctuations in blendedness. These results are discussed in terms of what biculturalism is and how best to promote it.

Hybrid and Alternating Identity Styles as Strategies for Managing Multicultural Identities

“…The reliability of the BIIS-1 was lower than the generally accepted standard for internal consistency. Although this may call into question the psychometric robustness of the measure for these samples, in our related research using the MISS and the BIIS-2 with Hispanic American university students, both BII subscales achieved alphas above .80 and produced the same pattern of relationships with HIS and AIS as reported in this study (Schwartz et al, 2018).…”

Toward a micro‐level perspective on acculturation among U.S. Hispanic college students: A daily diary study

“…The present study used a 12-day diary design (see Meca et al, 2019;Schwartz et al, 2019, for further details).…”

“…We conducted the present study with a sample of Hispanic college students in Miami. Given findings by Klimstra et al (2010) and by Schwartz et al (2011Schwartz et al ( , 2019 regarding identity-based indicators, we hypothesized that fluctuations in cultural identifications (ethnic and U.S. identity) across days would most strongly predict decreased well-being and increased internalizing symptoms and externalizing problems.…”

Implications of Individualist Bias in Social Identity Theory for Cross-Cultural Organizational Psychology

“…An individualistic view of social mobility, creativity, and competition strategies permeates acculturation theories of the ongoing identity threats facing multicultural people. Roccas and Brewer’s (2002) Social Identity Complexity Model , Benet-Martínez and colleagues’ (Benet-Martínez et al, 2002; Benet-Martínez & Haritatos, 2005; S. J. Schwartz et al, 2019) Bicultural Identity Integration Model , Berry’s (2003, 2009) Acculturation Model , and Fitzsimmons’ (2013) Model of Multicultural Identity Dimensions suggest that multiculturals continuously manage relationships among potentially competing cultural identities.…”

“…In these models, some multiculturals show social creativity by integrating (hybridizing) their identities into a unique multicultural identity (West et al, 2017). Multiculturals can also alternate very different or even competing cultural identities to fit specific social settings (S. J. Schwartz et al, 2019; Ward et al, 2018).…”