Evaluating the Integration Hypothesis: A meta-analysis of the ICSEY project data using two new methods

British Journal of Psychology. 2023. Vol. 114. No. 4. P. 819–837.

Abu-Rayya H., Berry J. W., Sam D., Grigoryev D.

The Integration Hypothesis states that acculturating migrants who adopt the integration strategy (i.e., being doubly engaged, in both their heritage culture and in the larger national society) will have better psychological and sociocultural adaptation than those who adopt any other strategy (Assimilation, Separation, or Marginalization). This hypothesis was supported in the original evaluation of the ICSEY project data, using the mean adaptation scores for individuals in the four acculturation clusters. This conclusion was further supported by an analysis that used scores that were derived from the two underlying dimensions. The present paper further evaluates this hypothesis meta-analytically using two new methods: Cultural Involvement and Cultural Preference; and Euclidean Distance. The results showed that these two methods provided support for the integration hypothesis, for both psychological adaptation and sociocultural adaptation. The pattern of relationships was stronger for positive than for negative indicators of adaptation. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

Keywords: acculturation strategies, sociocultural adaptation, integration hypothesis, psychological adaptation, assessment of acculturation

Publication based on the results of: Socio-cultural and psychological mechanisms of unity and polarization of Russian society in the context of global challenges (2023)