This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tsai, J. L. Articles by Lee, P. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Meaning of "Being Chinese" and "Being American"

Variation among Chinese American Young Adults

University of Minnesota

Yu-Wen Ying

University of California, Berkeley

Peter A. Lee

University of California, Berkeley

Few studies have investigated how the meanings attached to being of a particular culture vary within cultural groups. The meanings of "being Chinese" and "being American" were compared among three Chinese American groups: 122 American-born Chinese (ABC), 119 immigrant Chinese who arrived in the United States before or at age 12, and 112 immigrant Chinese who arrived in the United States after age 12. Participants completed the General Ethnicity Questionnaire (abridged version). For each group, the relationship between "being Chinese" and "being American" and the specific cultural domains (e.g., engagement in American activities, Chinese language proficiency) on which they were based were assessed. Results suggest that "being Chinese" and "being American" were unrelated for ABC, but were negatively related for immigrant Chinese. Results also suggest that for immigrants, the domains on which "being Chinese" and "being American" are based change with increased stay in the United States.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-W. Ying, M. Han, and S. L. Wong Cultural Orientation in Asian American Adolescents: Variation by Age and Ethnic Density Youth Society, June 1, 2008; 39(4): 507 - 523. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. K. Uskul, R. N. Lalonde, and L. Cheng Views on interracial dating among Chinese and European Canadians: The roles of culture, gender, and mainstream cultural identity Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 2007; 24(6): 891 - 911. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Paterson, M. Feehan, S. Butler, M. Williams, and E. T. Cowley-Malcolm Intimate Partner Violence Within a Cohort of Pacific Mothers Living in New Zealand J Interpers Violence, June 1, 2007; 22(6): 698 - 721. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. L. Tsai, F. F. Miao, and E. Seppala Good Feelings in Christianity and Buddhism: Religious Differences in Ideal Affect Pers Soc Psychol Bull, March 1, 2007; 33(3): 409 - 421. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S.-M. Kang Measurement of Acculturation, Scale Formats, and Language Competence: Their Implications for Adjustment Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, November 1, 2006; 37(6): 669 - 693. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C.-Y. Cheng, F. Lee, and V. Benet-Martinez Assimilation and Contrast Effects in Cultural Frame Switching: Bicultural Identity Integration and Valence of Cultural Cues Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, November 1, 2006; 37(6): 742 - 760. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Birman Acculturation Gap And Family Adjustment: Findings With Soviet Jewish Refugees in the United States and Implications for Measurement Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, September 1, 2006; 37(5): 568 - 589. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Matsudaira Measures of psychological acculturation: a review. Transcultural Psychiatry, September 1, 2006; 43(3): 462 - 487. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. Benet-Martinez, F. Lee, and J. Leu Biculturalism and Cognitive Complexity: Expertise in Cultural Representations Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, July 1, 2006; 37(4): 386 - 407. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. Umana-Taylor, R. Bhanot, and N. Shin Ethnic Identity Formation During Adolescence: The Critical Role of Families Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 2006; 27(3): 390 - 414. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Lyubansky and R. J. Eidelson Revisiting Du Bois: The Relationship Between African American Double Consciousness and Beliefs About Racial and National Group Experiences Journal of Black Psychology, February 1, 2005; 31(1): 3 - 26. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. L. Tsai, D. I. Simeonova, and J. T. Watanabe Somatic and Social: Chinese Americans Talk about Emotion Pers Soc Psychol Bull, September 1, 2004; 30(9): 1226 - 1238. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. L. Tsai and U. Chentsova-Dutton Variation among European Americans in Emotional Facial Expression Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, November 1, 2003; 34(6): 650 - 657. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. Benet-Martinez, J. Leu, F. Lee, and M. W. Morris Negotiating Biculturalism: Cultural Frame Switching in Biculturals with Oppositional Versus Compatible Cultural Identities Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, September 1, 2002; 33(5): 492 - 516. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Wm. P. Flannery, S. P. Reise, and J. Yu An Empirical Comparison of Acculturation Models Pers Soc Psychol Bull, August 1, 2001; 27(8): 1035 - 1045. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Birman and E. J. Trickett Cultural Transitions in First-Generation Immigrants: Acculturation of Soviet Jewish Refugee Adolescents and Parents Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, July 1, 2001; 32(4): 456 - 477. [Abstract] [PDF]