Impact of acculturation on socialization beliefs and behavioral occurrences among Indo-Canadian immigrants

The acculturation process and its impact on socialization beliefs of first and second generation Indo-Canadians were examined using a sample of 558 re spondents from 105 families. A questionnaire was designed and administered in a semi structured interview format. The study reports validity and relia bility of the two measures: acculturation attitudes based on Berry's (1984) model, and socialization beliefs. Integration was the overwhelming prefere nce for both parents and children, followed by separation for parents, and assimilation for children. Three dimensions of socialization beliefs were i dentified. The first dimension, 'parental guidance in children's social lif e', was positively related to integration; the second dimension,'parental c ontrol over children's social and moral life' was positively associated wit h separation; and the third dimension 'children's autonomy without parental involvement' was positively correlated with assimilation. Integration was associated with fewer behavioral and disciplinary problems of children. Chi ldren of parents who preferred assimilation, and children who favoured sepa ration faced disciplinary and behavioral problems more often.