Acculturation and Racial Identity Attitudes: An Investigation of First and Second Generation Ibos

Author

Chinaka Agwu, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

1-1-2009

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Educational Psychology

First Advisor

Zyromski, Brett

Abstract

As the number of people immigrating to the United States of America increases, so too does the richness of U.S. American culture. However, research is lacking focusing on the impact race and race-related problems have on African and African-descent immigrants and their personal identities. The following research study investigates the influence of U.S. acculturation and Igbo acculturation on black racial identity attitudes of first generation and second generation Ibos of Nigeria living in the U.S. Results of the study indicated differences exist between first generation and second generation Ibos on levels of U.S. and Igbo acculturation, first generation Ibos were more likely to identify as being American rather than being a part of the black racial group in the United States, second generation Ibos were more likely to accept stereotypes about blacks, second generation Ibos less familiar with Igbo culture were more likely to perceive themselves as multicultural beings, length of stay in the U.S. mediated multicultural attitudes of Ibos, and both length of stay in the U.S. and generational status mediated Afrocentric attitudes of Ibos. Implications and discussion of the findings are followed by a suggested framework for practicing counselors to use, based on these results, when working with African and African-descent immigrants. i