Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale (LAECA)

Abstract

The Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale (LAECA) is a specialized psychometric instrument developed in 1987 to quantify the level of acculturation among individuals of Mexican descent residing in the United States. Developed during the landmark Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study conducted in Los Angeles, the scale captures diverse dimensions of cultural adaptation, primarily focusing on linguistic proficiency, social integration, and adherence to traditional Hispanic customs. This instrument is crucial for researchers studying the relationship between cultural assimilation and mental health outcomes in the Hispanic population.

Keywords

acculturation, Mexican Americans, cultural adaptation, psychological assessment, linguistic dominance, social integration, LAECA, Epidemiologic Catchment Area.

Authors

Burnam, Hough, Telles, Escobar

Purpose

The primary purpose of the LAECA scale is to measure the degree of cultural and linguistic shift experienced by individuals of Mexican origin in the United States. It was designed specifically for use within large community-based epidemiological studies, such as the original Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey, to provide robust data on cultural variables that might influence the prevalence and presentation of mental health disorders.

The scale aims to differentiate between varying levels of cultural engagement—from those who are highly traditional and Spanish-dominant to those who are largely assimilated into the majority Anglo-American culture. This detailed measurement allows researchers to better understand the impact of acculturation stress and cultural protective factors within the target population.

Construct

The LAECA scale operationalizes the construct of acculturation across three primary domains: Language Use and Proficiency, Social Activities and Affiliations, and Demographic/Ethnic Background. Unlike simpler measures, LAECA treats acculturation as a complex, multi-faceted process rather than a linear continuum of assimilation.

The instrument includes 26 items designed to capture behavioral manifestations of cultural engagement. The comprehensive language domain assesses usage in various critical social contexts (home, work, media, internal thought), while the social domain assesses the ethnic composition of one’s social network (friends, neighbors, co-workers) and participation in traditional cultural practices (food, music, traditions). Demographic items provide essential context regarding generation status and life history within the United States versus a country of origin.

Validity

The LAECA was developed as part of a methodologically rigorous large-scale epidemiological study, which implies a strong focus on content validity. The 26 items were carefully selected by the authors (Burnam et al., 1987) to comprehensively cover the key behavioral and demographic markers of acculturation identified in the literature concerning Mexican Americans at the time of development.

The structure of the scale, which integrates demographic markers (generation, country of origin) with extensive behavioral items (language use and cultural engagement), supports its construct validity. This multidimensional approach is theoretically aligned with modern conceptualizations of acculturation, where adaptation occurs simultaneously across multiple domains. Its consistent use in subsequent clinical and public health research further attests to its empirical utility.

Reliability

Given its application in large-scale studies like the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, the LAECA is structured to demonstrate acceptable levels of internal consistency across its subscales. Although specific Cronbach’s alpha coefficients are not provided in the source excerpt, the scale’s robust design, featuring 13 items dedicated solely to various facets of language usage, suggests that the Linguistic Acculturation sub-domain, in particular, should yield high reliability scores.

Factor Analysis

Although the original 1987 publication focused on the scale’s development and application, subsequent psychometric evaluations of similar acculturation instruments often reveal distinct underlying factors. It is generally understood that the 26 items of the LAECA load onto principal factors corresponding to the major domains measured:

• Linguistic Acculturation: Items related to language preference, proficiency, and use in different social and private settings (Items 2–14).
• Cultural and Social Affiliation: Items covering the ethnic composition of social networks, neighborhood, and engagement in cultural traditions (Items 15–21).
• Generational and Geographic Status: Demographic items providing historical context, such as generation status and proportion of life lived in the United States versus a Hispanic country (Items 1, 25, 26).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological Scale

Format: 26 items utilizing categorical and multi-point Likert-type scales.

Language Available: English and Spanish (Implied, necessary for assessing linguistic dominance in the target population).

Population Group: Individuals of Mexican origin, specifically Mexican Americans.

Age Group: Adults (Implied by the context of the study and inclusion of items regarding spouse and co-workers).

Population Details: Originally developed and validated on a large community sample of Mexican Americans residing in Los Angeles, California.

Test Methodology: Structured interview or self-administered questionnaire, scoring various dimensions of linguistic and cultural assimilation based on frequency, preference, and background.

Keywords

acculturation measurement, psychological assessment, linguistic dominance, social network analysis, Los Angeles, ECA study, Burnam, Hispanic behavior.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not available in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not available in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not available in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1987

Permissions and Fees: The scale was published in the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences in 1987. Availability and usage fees are generally subject to standard academic permissions, though the full instrument can be found referenced in subsequent academic compilations. The original reference text can be found at: http://www.springer.com/978-1-4419-6696-4

Reference’s

• Burnam, M. A., Hough, R. L., Telles, C. A., & Escobar, J. I. (1987). Measurement of acculturation in a community population of Mexican Americans. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 9, 105–130.
• Clark, L. (2002). Mexican-Origin mothers’ experiences using children’s health care services. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 24, 159–179.
• Davis LE and Engel RJ. (2011). Measuring Race and Ethnicity. New York, NY: Springer.

Items of the Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale (LAECA)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. Generation
2. Language spoken
3. Language preferred
4. Language use with spouse
5. Language use with children
6. Language use with parents
7. Language use with co-workers
8. Language use with friends
9. Language of TV viewing
10. Language of radio listening
11. Language of thinking
12. Language reads better
13. Language used when reading
14. Language writes better
15. Ethnicity of people in neighborhood
16. Ethnicity of co-workers
17. Ethnicity of close friends
18. Proportion of time spent eating Hispanic foods
19. Proportion of time spent listening to Latin music
20. Proportion of time spent celebrating Hispanic traditions
21. Ethnicity of leisure time social environment
22. Ethnic background
23. Mother’s ethnic background
24. Father’s ethnic background
25. Country spent childhood
26. Proportion of life lived in United States versus Hispanic country

The scale encompasses three major domains: Language, social activities, and ethnic background.

Scoring Details:

Item 1: 1 = First; 2 = Second; 3 = Third; 4 = Fourth; 5 = Fifth

Item 2–3: 1 = Spanish only; 2 = Mostly Spanish; 3 = Both Equally; 4 = Mostly English; 5 = English only

Items 4–14: 1 = Spanish only; 2 = Spanish better; 3 = Both equally; 4 = English better; 5 = English only

Items 15–17: 1 = All Hispanic; 2 = Most Hispanic; 3 = Half Hispanic; 4 = Few Hispanic; 5 = None Hispanic

Items 18–20: 1 = All of the time; 2 = Most of the time; 3 = Half of the time; 4 = Sometimes; 5 = Never

Item 21: 1 = All Hispanic; 2 = Most Hispanic; 3 = Half Hispanic; 4 = Few Hispanic; 5 = None Hispanic

Items 22–24: 1 = Mexican; 2 = Chicano; 3 = Mexican American; 4 = Latin American, other Hispanic American; 5 = Anglo American or other

Item 25: 2 = Other; 4 = United States

Item 26: 2 = Mostly Hispanic, partly United States; 3 = Equal; 4 = Mostly United States, partly Hispanic; 5 = United States only