Acculturation of Japanese Americans:: Use of the SL­ASIA with a Community Sample

PURPOSE. The present article summarizes the use of the Suinn­Lew Asian Self Identity Acculturation Scale (SL­ASIA) with a community sample of Japanese Americans. METHODOLOGY. The SL­ASIA was administered to 123 Japanese Americans in Los Angeles, CA. Analyses of internal consistency and concurrent validity were conducted. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS. Results indicated that the mean SL­ASIA score for this sample was 3.25, which according to the scale developers' conceptualization of acculturation, indicates a medium level of acculturation. Analyses revealed no gender differences. Psychometric properties of the SL­ASIA with this community sample of Japanese Americans appear to be adequate. Obtained correlation coefficients were somewhat lower than those found for college students; however, they still were in a reasonable range. Concurrent validity of the SL-ASIA was demonstrated with several other variables such as generational status and self-identification. CONCLUSIONS. This article presented the results of analyses of the SL­ASIA with a community sample of Japanese Americans. Results indicated that, although the correlation coefficients obtained from analyses examining internal consistency and concurrent validity were lower for this sample as compared to those found with college student samples, the SL­ASIA was found to have adequate psychometric properties with this community sample. Thus, results indicate that the SL­ASIA would be an appropriate screening measure to assess acculturation level among Japanese Americans in the community. RELEVANCE TO ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER POPULATIONS. This article is particularly relevant to Japanese Americans. KEY WORDS. Acculturation, Japanese Americans, moderator variables, psychometric analyses.