Skip to main content

An Integrated Conceptual Model of Ethnic and Racial Identity Development: Parental Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Home Literacy Practices that Promote Ethnic Identity Development in Chinese Immigrant Families

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Family Literacy Practices in Asian and Latinx Families

Part of the book series: Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood ((CCSC))

  • 301 Accesses

Abstract

The developmental processes that immigrants undergo over time are reflected in their acculturation, adjustment, and academic or career paths. Considering that Chinese Americans are the largest Asian ethnic group with the longest immigration history in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, Asian-American and Pacific Islander heritage month: May 2018, Census Bureau Newsroom [Release Number: CB18-FF.04]. Author. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2018/asian-american.html, 2018), we focus this chapter on Chinese immigrants to the US and synthesize existing research on ethnic identity development for Chinese immigrants. Ethnic identity has been suggested as a protective factor against acculturative stress and maladjustment for Chinese American adolescents. Thus, we center this chapter on understanding how youth from Chinese immigrant families establish their ethnic identity which plays a role in their maintenance of their heritage culture and language. Research on individual and contextual factors that are influential in the ethnic identity development and the maintenance of heritage culture and language among Chinese immigrants will be explicated. We also present an integrated conceptual model that helps consolidate extant research findings and guide future research on ethnic identity development and heritage culture and language maintenance. We conclude with implications of how parental ethnic-racial socialization practices and home literacy practices can support each other and support the development of children’s ethnic identity and literacy competencies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bankston, C. L., III, & Zhou, M. (1995). Effects of minority-language literacy on the academic achievement of Vietnamese youths in New Orleans. Sociology of Education, 68, 1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benet-Martinez, V., & Haritatos, J. (2005). Bicultural identity integration (BII): Components and psychosocial antecedents. Journal of Personality, 73(4), 1015–1050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berry, J. W. (1990). Acculturation and adaptation: A general framework. In W. H. Holtzman & T. H. Bornemann (Eds.), Mental health of immigrants and refugees (pp. 90–102). Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boeckmann, R. J., & Liew, J. (2002). Hate speech: Asian American students’ justice judgements and psychological responses. Journal of Social Issues, 58, 363–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bond, M. H. (Ed.). (1996). The handbook of Chinese psychology. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, A., Crouter, A. C., & Landale, N. S. (2002). Just living together: Implications of cohabitation on families, children, and social policy. Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bornstein, M. H. (2017). The specificity principle in acculturation science. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12(1), 3–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, W. Y. (2011). An exploration of Asian American college students’ civic engagement. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2(3), 197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho, G., Cho, K. S., & Tse, L. (1997). Why ethnic minorities want to develop their heritage language: The case of Korean-Americans. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 10(2), 106–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comanaru, R., & Noels, K. A. (2009). Self-determination, motivation, and the learning of Chinese as a heritage language. Canadian Modern Language Review, 66(1), 131–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Concepcion, W. R., Kohatsu, E. L., & Yeh, C. J. (2013). Using racial identity and acculturation to analyze experiences of racism among Asian Americans. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 4(2), 136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costigan, C. L., Koryzma, C. M., Hua, J. M., & Chance, L. J. (2010). Ethnic identity, achievement, and psychological adjustment: Examining risk and resilience among youth from immigrant Chinese families in Canada. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danico, M. Y. (Ed.). (2014). Asian American Society: An encyclopedia. SAGE Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Castell, S., & Luke, A. (1983). Defining ‘literacy’ in North American schools: Social and historical conditions and consequences. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 15, 373–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Vos, G. A. (1995). Ethnic pluralism: Conflict and accommodation: The role of ethnicity in social history. In L. Romanucci-Ross & G. A. De Vos (Eds.), Ethnic identity: Creation, conflict, and accommodation (pp. 15–47). AltaMira Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deaux, K., & Ethier, K. A. (1998). Negotiating social identity. In J. K. Swim & C. Stangor (Eds.), Prejudice: The target’s perspective (pp. 301–323). Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Else-Quest, N. M., & Morse, E. (2015). Ethnic variations in parental ethnic socialization and adolescent ethnic identity: A longitudinal study. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21(1), 54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farver, J. A. M., Narang, S. K., & Bhadha, B. R. (2002). East meets West: Ethnic identity, acculturation, adulthood. Developmental Psychology, 38(5), 856.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferdman, B. (1990). Literacy and cultural identity. Harvard Educational Review, 60(2), 181–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J. A., & García, O. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of language & ethnic identity (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giles, H., Bourhis, R. Y., & Taylor, D. M. (1977). Towards a theory of language in ethnic group relations. In H. Giles (Ed.), Language, ethnicity, and intergroup relations (pp. 307–348). Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Estern, B. M., Amián, J. G., Sánchez Medina, J. A., & Marco Macarro, M. J. (2010). Literacy and the formation of cultural identity. Theory & Psychology, 20(2), 231–250. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354309345638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, J. E., Liew, J., Zou, Y., Curtis, G., & Li, D. (2021). ‘They’re going to forget about their mother tongue’: Influence of Chinese beliefs in child home language and literacy development. Early Childhood Education Journal, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guardia, J. R., & Evans, N. J. (2008). Factors influencing the ethnic identity development of Latino fraternity members at a Hispanic serving institution. Journal of College Student Development, 49(3), 163–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gudykunst, W., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1990). Ethnic identity, language and communication break-downs. In H. Giles & P. Robinson (Eds.), Handbook of language and social psychology (pp. 309–327). Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helms, J. E. (1995). An update of Helm’s White and people of color racial identity models. In J. G. Ponterotto, J. M. Casas, L. A. Suzuki, & C. M. Alexander (Eds.), Handbook of multicultural counseling (pp. 181–198). Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, D. J., Li, D., Wang, J., & Liew, J. (2021). Cultural values, intergenerational transmission of internalized racism, education, and career goals in Chinese American families. Journal of Career Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453211026973

  • Hughes, D., & Chen, L. (1997). When and what parents tell children about race: An examination of race-related socialization among African American families. Applied Developmental Science, 1(4), 200–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, D., Rodriguez, J., Smith, E. P., Johnson, D. J., Stevenson, H. C., & Spicer, P. (2006). Parents’ ethnic-racial socialization practices: A review of research and directions for future study. Developmental Psychology, 42(5), 747.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huynh, Q. L., Nguyen, A. M. D., & Benet-Martinez, V. (2011). Bicultural identity integration. In S. J. Schwartz, K. Luyckx, & V. L. Vignoles (Eds.), Handbook of identity theory and research (pp. 827–844). Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Huynh, V. W., & Fuligni, A. J. (2008). Ethnic socialization and the academic adjustment of adolescents from Mexican, Chinese, and European backgrounds. Developmental Psychology, 44(4), 1202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imbens-Bailey, A. L. (1997). Oral proficiency and literacy skills in an ancestral language: Implications for ethnic identity. Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Washington, DC. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Oral-Proficiency-and-Literacy-Skills-in-an-for-Imbens-Bailey/6104ab85e13e9559227aba3a148be521e90dba2a

  • Isajiw, W. W. (1990). Ethnic identity retention in four ethnic groups: Does it matter? Journal of Baltic Studies, 21(3), 289–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L. (2008). Ethnic self-labeling in young American adults from Chinese backgrounds. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37(1), 97–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B. S., Atkinson, D. R., & Yang, P. H. (1999). The Asian Values Scale: Development, factor analysis, validation, and reliability. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46(3), 342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B. S. K., & Abreu, J. M. (2001). Acculturation measurement: Theory, current instruments, and future directions. In J. G. Ponterotto, J. M. Casas, L. A. Suzuki, & C. M. Alexander (Eds.), Handbook of multicultural counseling (pp. 394–424). Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J. (1981). Processes of Asian American identity development: A study of Japanese American women’s perceptions of their struggle to achieve positive identities as Americans of Asian ancestry. Dissertation Abstracts International, 42(4-A), 1551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. Y., & Chao, R. K. (2009). Heritage language fluency, ethnic identity, and school effort of immigrant Chinese and Mexican adolescents. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 15(1), 27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, G. P., Bernal, M. E., Garza, C. A., Cota, M. K., & Ocampo, K. A. (1993). Family socialization and the ethnic identity of Mexican-American children. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 24(1), 99–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuo, E. C. Y. (1974). Bilingual pattern of a Chinese immigrant group in the United States. Anthropological Linguistics, 16, 128–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaFromboise, T., Coleman, H. L., & Gerton, J. (1993). Psychological impact of biculturalism: Evidence and theory. Psychological Bulletin, 114(3), 395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieber, E., Chin, D., Nihira, K., & Mink, I. T. (2001). Holding on and letting go: Identity and acculturation among Chinese immigrants. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 7(3), 247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liew, J., & Zhou, Q. (2022). Parenting, emotional self-regulation, and psychosocial adjustment across early childhood and adolescence in Chinese and Chinese immigrant sociocultural contexts. In D. Dukes, E. Walle, & A. Samson (Eds.), Oxford University Press handbook of emotional development (pp. 421–436). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • López, G., Ruiz, N. G., & Patten, E. (2017). Key facts about Asian Americans, a diverse and growing population. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/09/08/key-facts-about-asian-americans/#

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, X. (2001). Bicultural identity development and Chinese community formation: An ethnographic study of Chinese schools in Chicago. Howard Journal of Communications, 12(4), 203–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, S. H., & Wiseman, R. L. (2000). Ethnic language maintenance among Chinese immigrant children in the United States. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 24(3), 307–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3(5), 551–558. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0023281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcia, J. E. (1991). Identity and self-development. Encyclopedia of Adolescence, 1, 527–531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mistry, J., Li, J., Yoshikawa, H., Tseng, V., Tirrell, J., Kiang, L., Mistry, R., & Wang, Y. (2016). An integrated conceptual framework for the development of Asian American children and youth. Child Development, 87(4), 1014–1032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mu, G. M. (2015). A meta-analysis of the correlation between heritage language and ethnic identity. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 36(3), 239–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, H. H., Messé, L. A., & Stollak, G. E. (1999). Toward a more complex understanding of acculturation and adjustment: Cultural involvements and psychosocial functioning in Vietnamese youth. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 30(1), 5–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, J. S. (1990). Ethnic identity in adolescents and adults: Review of research. Psychological Bulletin, 108(3), 499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, J. S. (1992). The multigroup ethnic identity measure: A new scale for use with diverse groups. Journal of Adolescent Research, 7(2), 156–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, J. S. (2003). Ethic identity and acculturation. In K. M. Chun, P. Balls Organista, & G. Marín (Eds.), Acculturation: Advances in theory, measurement, and applied Research (pp. 63–81). American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, J. S., DuPont, S., Espinosa, C., Revill, J., & Sanders, K. (1994). Ethnic identity and American identification among ethnic minority youths. In A.-M. Bouvy, F. J. R. van de Vijver, P. Boski, & P. G. Schmitz (Eds.), Journeys into Cross-cultural Psychology (pp. 167–183). Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, J. S., & Ong, A. D. (2007). Conceptualization and measurement of ethnic identity: Current status and future directions. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54(3), 271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riches, C., & Curdt-Christiansen, X. L. (2010). A tale of two Montréal communities: Parents’ perspectives on their children’s language and literacy development in a multilingual context. Canadian Modern Language Review, 66(4), 525–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, J. A., & Yik, M. S. (1996). Emotion among the Chinese. In M. H. Bond (Ed.), The handbook of Chinese psychology (pp. 166–188). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sam, D. L. (2000). Psychological adaptation of adolescents with immigrant backgrounds. Journal of Social Psychology, 140(1), 5–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schimmele, C., & Wu, Z. (2015). The new immigration and ethnic identity. Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Discussion Paper Series/Un Réseau stratégique de connaissances Changements de population et parcours de vie Document de travail, 3(1), 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, T. F., & Costigan, C. L. (2009). The development of children’s ethnic identity in immigrant Chinese families in Canada: The role of parenting practices and children’s perceptions of parental family obligation expectations. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 29(5), 638–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D., Mak, W. S., & Sue, D. W. (1998). Ethnic identity. In L. C. Lee & N. W. S. Zane (Eds.), Handbook of Asian American psychology (pp. 289–323). Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33–37). Brooks/Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tran, A. G., & Lee, R. M. (2010). Perceived ethnic–racial socialization, ethnic identity, and social competence among Asian American late adolescents. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H. C. (1996). The psychological measurement of cultural syndromes. American Psychologist, 51(4), 407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai, J. L., Ying, Y. W., & Lee, P. A. (2000). The meaning of ‘being Chinese’ and ‘being American’ variation among Chinese American young adults. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 31(3), 302–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tse, L. (2000). The effects of ethnic identity formation on bilingual maintenance and development: An analysis of Asian American narratives. International journal of bilingual education and bilingualism, 3(3), 185–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U. S. Census Bureau. (2018). Asian-American and Pacific Islander heritage month: May 2018, Census Bureau Newsroom (Release Number: CB18-FF.04). Author. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2018/asian-american.html

  • Umaña-Taylor, A. J., Alfaro, E. C., Bámaca, M. Y., & Guimond, A. B. (2009). The central role of familial ethnic socialization in Latino adolescents’ cultural orientation. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71(1), 46–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umaña-Taylor, A. J., & Hill, N. E. (2020). Ethnic-racial socialization in the family: A decade’s advance on precursors and outcomes. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 244–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umaña-Taylor, A. J., Zeiders, K. H., & Updegraff, K. A. (2013). Family ethnic socialization and ethnic identity: A family-driven, youth-driven, or reciprocal process? Journal of Family Psychology, 27(1), 137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yip, T., Gee, G. C., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2008). Racial discrimination and psychological distress: The impact of ethnic identity and age among immigrant and United States-born Asian adults. Developmental Psychology, 44(3), 787–800. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.44.3.787

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, E. (2011). Measuring ethnic identity in the Ethnic Identity Scale and the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 17(2), 144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, S. (2015). The Relationships among heritage language proficiency, proficiency, ethnic identity, and self-esteem. FIRE: Forum for International Research in Education, 2(2) http://preserve.lehigh.edu/fire/vol2/iss2/5

  • Zhang, D., & Slaughter-Defoe, D. T. (2009). Language attitudes and heritage language maintenance among Chinese immigrant families in the USA. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 22(2), 77–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey Liew .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Pang, D., Li, D., Liew, J. (2023). An Integrated Conceptual Model of Ethnic and Racial Identity Development: Parental Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Home Literacy Practices that Promote Ethnic Identity Development in Chinese Immigrant Families. In: Gonzalez, J.E., Liew, J., Curtis, G.A., Zou, Y. (eds) Family Literacy Practices in Asian and Latinx Families. Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14470-7_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14470-7_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-14469-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-14470-7

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics