THE ROLE OF BIRTH-ORDER IN THE ACCULTURATION OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS

The present study relates a within-family variable, birth order positi on, to acculturation among second and third generation Japanese Americ ans. The study tests a general hypothesis that firstborn (including on ly children) will be less assimilated to the dominant culture than the ir siblings in families where the parents are trying to maintain their identity with the culture of origin. This hypothesis was generally su pported. Compared to laterborn Nisei, firstborn Nisei were less assimi lated. For example, firstborn Nisei were more likely to live in Japane se American neighborhoods, to use and learn Japanese language, to have stronger Japanese family values, and to be Buddhist or Shinto. Likewi se, compared to laterborn Sansei, firstborns seemed to be more informe d and interested in Japanese values and culture and to have more cultu rally traditional perspectives. Results support that, in general, comp ared to laterboms, firstborns in both generations were more traditiona lly ''Japanese''. Implications of these findings for understanding acc ulturation are presented.