Generational differences in acculturation among Asian families in Canada: A comparison of Vietnamese, Korean, and East-Indian groups

By examining generational differences between adolescents and their parents , the present study attempts to establish which specific aspects of strong kinship are maintained among Asian groups undergoing acculturation, Vietnam ese (adolescent N = 104; parent N = 70), Korean (N = 111; N = 83), and East -Indian (N = 97; N = 84) families were compared for family relations and ac culturation attitudes. As compared to the Anglo-Celtic group (adolescent N = 151; parent N = 116), Asian adolescents maintained stronger responsibilit ies within the family while disagreeing more with parents about their indep endence and roles in decision making, and expressing different preferences about intercultural contacts. However, since both parents and adolescents f rom the three groups clearly differ from each other for both family relatio ns and acculturation attitudes, it is argued that generational differences should be particularized by each group's selective emphasis upon different cultural issues.