Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA)

Abstract

The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA) is a widely used 26-item instrument designed to measure the degree of acculturation among individuals of Asian descent, particularly those residing in Western societies like the United States. Developed by Richard M. Suinn and Paul Lew, the scale assesses the extent to which an individual identifies with and practices behaviors and values associated with both traditional Asian culture and mainstream American (Western) culture. This multidimensional tool is crucial for research in cross-cultural psychology and mental health, providing a quantitative score reflecting the individual’s position on a continuum between Asian and Western identity.

Keywords

Acculturation, Asian American, Cultural Identity, Psychological Assessment, Self-Identity, Ethnic Identity, Biculturalism

Authors

Richard M. Suinn, Paul Lew

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the SL-ASIA is to provide a quantitative measure of acculturation level within Asian American populations. Researchers and clinicians utilize this scale to understand how cultural adaptation influences psychological adjustment, mental health outcomes, and service utilization among Asian Americans. The scale helps differentiate individuals who are highly traditional, bicultural, or highly Westernized, allowing for culturally sensitive interpretations of other psychological assessments.

The instructions emphasize collecting information about the respondent’s historical background and recent behaviors related to their cultural identity, covering aspects from language preference and social affiliation to generational status and cultural values.

Construct

The SL-ASIA measures the construct of Asian Self-Identity Acculturation, conceptualized as a linear process ranging from being fully Asian-identified to fully American-identified. It assesses acculturation across several key domains of cultural experience, including:

• Language Use and Preference: Speaking, reading, and writing abilities in Asian languages versus English.
• Cultural Preferences: Choices regarding food, music, and movies.
• Social Affiliation: Ethnic origin of friends and peers throughout life stages.
• Generational Status: Place of birth and parental/grandparental origins.
• Self-Identification and Values: Personal rating of being Asian, American, or bicultural, and belief in corresponding cultural values.

Validity

The SL-ASIA has demonstrated strong construct validity, particularly through its correlation with demographic variables known to influence acculturation, such as generation level and age of immigration. Criterion validity has been established by showing expected correlations between SL-ASIA scores and measures of ethnic identity, cultural knowledge, and cultural stress. Furthermore, the scale’s ability to predict differences in psychological distress across varying acculturation levels supports its utility in clinical and research settings focused on the Asian American experience.

Reliability

Reliability studies generally support the consistency of the SL-ASIA. The scale exhibits high internal consistency, typically reporting Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.88 to 0.93 across various Asian ethnic groups (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese Americans). This robust internal consistency suggests that the 26 items reliably measure the unitary underlying dimension of Asian self-identity acculturation, providing a stable measure over time.

Factor Analysis

Initial factor analysis studies of the SL-ASIA suggested a predominantly unidimensional structure, supporting the concept of acculturation as a single continuum from Asian to Western identification. However, some subsequent analyses have identified two primary factors, often termed Behavioral Acculturation (related to overt practices like language and food preference) and Cultural Identity (related to subjective self-rating, pride, and values). Despite these variations, the scale is typically scored and interpreted as a single summary index of acculturation for ease of use in applied settings.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Inventory / Psychological Assessment

Format: 26 multiple-choice and 5-point Likert-type items.

Language Available: Primarily English, but adapted versions exist in various Asian languages for specific research purposes.

Population Group: Individuals of Asian descent residing in Western countries (primarily Asian American populations).

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 18 years and older).

Population Details: Originally validated on college students, but now widely used across diverse Asian ethnic groups, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino Americans. It is designed for use across multiple generations of immigrants.

Test Methodology: Paper-and-pencil or digital self-administration. Scoring involves summing the responses, where higher scores typically indicate a greater degree of Western acculturation.

Keywords

Cultural adaptation, cross-cultural psychology, ethnic identity, psychological testing, biculturalism, measurement, Asian values

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: Contact information generally available through university departments.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence typically directed through the Department of Psychology, Colorado State University (for Dr. Suinn).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale is generally considered to be in the public domain for non-commercial research use, though users should consult the original authors or relevant institutions for specific usage guidelines. No standard fee is typically associated with its use in academic research.

Test Year: 1987

Reference’s

Suinn, R. M., & Lew, S. (1987). Asian American self-identity acculturation scale: An initial report. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1(2), 150-154.

Trinh, N.-H. et al. (eds.). (2009). Handbook of Mental Health and Acculturation in Asian American Families. Current Clinical Psychiatry, DOI 10.1007/978-1-60327-437-1_12. Humana Press, a part of Springer Science Business Media, LLC.

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Items of the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA)