Enacting Kapwa: Reconceptualizing Acculturation As a Relational Process

Background and Purpose: Acculturation is implicated as a significant factor influencing family dynamics and mental health among Asian American immigrant youth and adolescents. However, little is known about the acculturation process itself, or how sociocultural contexts may influence these processes. Moreover, most acculturation measures focus on individual behaviors or values related to a particular culture. While a few exceptions exist (e.g., items on fitting in or feeling comfortable with certain groups; Unger et al., 2002), existing measures largely ignore relational aspects of the acculturation process. The purpose of this study was to explore 1.5-generation PAs’ experiences as they adjusted to life in the U.S., and how those experiences informed their acculturation strategies.

Methods: This study utilized thematic analysis of secondary qualitative data from a dissertation study on 1.5-generation PA young adults. Eligibility criteria included: having immigrated to the U.S. between the ages of 0-17, identify as Filipino/a/x or Pilipino/a/x, currently be 18-29 years old, and speak conversational English. 15 participants completed intensive interviews, and their data were analyzed following constructivist grounded theory and thematic analysis methodologies.

Results: Analyses of interview transcript data resulted in five interrelated categories: 1) Making sense of life in the United States.; 2) Drawing from memories of the Philippines; 3) Creating own understanding of Filipino culture; 4) Creating own understanding of U.S. culture; and 4) Developing own identity/cultural position. All categories were grounded in participants’ relational interactions with parents or other family members and peers, which informed their developing values and perspectives about both cultures.

Conclusions & Implications: Though participants’ overt definitions of U.S. and Pilipinx culture largely confirm existing conceptualizations of acculturation, the ways in which they enacted or connected with culture through social interactions (e.g., sharing Filipino food with friends, talking about life “back home” vs. “speaking your mind” or being willing to cut off contact with family) seemed more important to their development and how they position themselves culturally. These findings align with PA scholars’ conceptualizations of kapwa – or interpersonal connectedness – and its centrality in understanding PA psychology (David et al., 2017). The present study’s findings may be understood through this lens, as most participants’ balancing of individual and familial priorities can be interpreted as their efforts to uphold kapwa within themselves and their family unit. Future investigations should explore the incorporation of relational items into conceptualizations and measures of acculturation.