Biculturalism and Adjustment

TLDR

Biculturalism, the coexistence of two cultural identities, has attracted psychological interest, yet its effect on individual adjustment remains unclear. The study sought to determine whether biculturalism influences adjustment. To address this, the authors conducted a meta‑analysis of 83 studies, 322 research samples, and 23,197 participants. The analysis found a strong, positive link between biculturalism and both psychological and sociocultural adjustment—stronger than that of single‑culture affiliation—disproving earlier sociological claims of marginality, and indicating that the association is moderated by acculturation measurement, adjustment domain, and sample characteristics.

Abstract

Biculturalism (having two cultures) is a growing social phenomenon that has received considerable attention in psychology in the last decade; however, the issue of what impact (if any) biculturalism has on individuals’ adjustment remains empirically unclear. To answer this question, we conducted a meta-analysis that included 83 studies, 322 rs, and 23,197 participants. Results based on the random-effects approach show a significant, strong, and positive association between biculturalism and adjustment (both psychological and sociocultural). This biculturalism- adjustment link is stronger than the association between having one culture (dominant or heritage) and adjustment. Thus, our results clearly invalidate early sociological accounts of this phenomenon, which portrayed bicultural individuals as “marginal” and stumped between two worlds. Analyses also indicate that the association between biculturalism and adjustment is moderated by how acculturation is measured, the adjustment domain, and sample characteristics.