Evaluating acculturation among adolescents: Instruments and methodologies for measurement

Abstract

Although a wide literature has highlighted the importance of studying the acculturation processes and its implications as a risk factor for the psychosocial adaptation, currently, very few instruments developed on ad hoc basis for adolescents are available. The present paper offers a review of the instruments for evaluating acculturation among adolescents. Based on an international literature-based analysis, structural features, psychometric qualities, strengths and points of weakness are indicated for each presented measure. Psychometric features, which needs to be gathered in order to advance assessment methods and techniques in this area, are discussed to help both choosing among existing measures and promoting research aimed to the development of specifically designed measures.