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The Best of Both Worlds

Biculturality, Acculturation, and Adjustment Among Young Mainland Puerto Rican Mothers

Kent State University

Josefina M. Contreras

Kent State University

The relations among language acculturation, biculturality, and psychological adjustment were studied in a sample of 54 young mainland Puerto Rican mothers. Participants were interviewed in the language of their choice concerning their level of symptomatology (i.e., depression, anxiety, somatization, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity), language acculturation, monocultural involvement (assessed by separate adherence to American and Puerto Rican cultural values), and dual cultural involvement (assessed by a combination of cultural values). Results indicated that biculturality significantly predicted adjustment above and beyond monocultural involvement. In addition, although biculturality and bilingualism were both significantly related to psychological adjustment, linguistic balance showed a stronger association with adjustment than biculturality. Findings are discussed in light of the family, cultural, and developmental context in which young mainland Puerto Rican mothers are embedded.

Key Words: biculturality • Puerto Rican • adolescent mothers • acculturation • psychological adjustment

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