| Abstract: | Research has shown that, among minority group members, there is a tendency to adopt outgroup attributes at the loss of ingroup cultural elements. However, studies have also documented the occurrence of cultural revitalization and ethnic maintenance. While current theories of intergroup relations do delineate conditions under which either may occur, none have examined the processes responsible for their co-occurrence. This study is therefore meant to investigate if and by what mechanism the effect of cultural loss and maintenance may occur concomitantly. Two dimensions of acculturation (ethnic identity and adjustment), along with initial aspects of contact mediated by communication and social support processes, were examined as they occur among French Canadians living in a province of Western Canada. High school and junior high students (N = 151) attending French schools participated in the study. As predicted, the importance of contact, social support, and language confidence for shaping identity and adjustment was supported. While there were subtractive trends as a result of learning the second language, the additive benefit of identity maintenance and well-being was also apparent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
