Cultural Life Styles Inventory (Version 2.0)

Abstract

The Cultural Life Styles Inventory (Version 2.0) (CLSI) is a psychometric instrument developed by Richard H. Mendoza to empirically measure the type and degree of acculturation among Mexican-American adolescents and adults. The inventory consists of 29 multiple-choice items designed to assess an individual’s engagement with both Mexican/Hispanic and Anglo-American cultures across five distinct domains. The CLSI is particularly noteworthy for categorizing acculturative outcomes into three primary styles: Cultural Resistance, Cultural Shift, and Cultural Incorporation, providing a nuanced perspective beyond simple linear assimilation models.

Keywords

Acculturation, Mexican American, Cultural Shift, Cultural Resistance, Cultural Incorporation, Biculturalism, Ethnic Identity, Language Use, Psychological Assessment, Mendoza Scale.

Authors

Richard H. Mendoza.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CLSI is to quantify the extent to which an individual of Mexican American descent has adopted the cultural practices, language, and social affiliations of the dominant Anglo-American society, while simultaneously measuring the retention of traditional Mexican culture. It was specifically designed to move beyond unidimensional models of acculturation by identifying distinct cultural adaptation strategies.

The inventory helps researchers and clinicians understand the complex interplay between heritage culture maintenance and receiving culture acquisition. By assessing these patterns, the CLSI can be utilized in studies concerning mental health outcomes, educational attainment, and social integration among specific ethnic minority groups.

Construct

The CLSI measures acculturation as a multidimensional process, focusing on three major adaptive styles. Cultural Resistance (CR) describes individuals who primarily maintain their heritage Mexican culture and resist adopting Anglo-American customs. Cultural Shift (CS) refers to those who primarily adopt Anglo-American culture, often at the expense of their heritage culture. Finally, Cultural Incorporation (CI) characterizes individuals who successfully integrate elements from both Mexican and Anglo-American cultures, often referred to as biculturalism.

This framework is operationalized across five empirically derived factors: intra-family language use, extra-family language use, social affiliation and activities, cultural familiarity and activities, and cultural identification and pride. These subdomains provide a comprehensive view of how cultural lifestyles manifest in daily life, from linguistic interactions to personal identity.

Validity

While the source content does not provide specific coefficients for criterion or convergent validity, the foundational research by Mendoza (1989) established the scale as an empirical instrument designed to measure the type and degree of acculturation. The strong internal consistency across the five factors suggests robust measurement of the hypothesized cultural domains.

Content validity is evident through the comprehensive coverage of cultural markers relevant to the Mexican American experience, including language use in various social contexts, media consumption, dietary habits, social affiliation patterns, and expressions of cultural pride. The structure supports the theoretical distinction between resistance, shift, and incorporation styles.

Reliability

The psychometric reliability of the CLSI (Version 2.0) is strong, as demonstrated by the internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) reported for the five underlying factors:

• Intra-familial language use: 0.87
• Extra-familial language use: 0.91
• Social affiliation and activities: 0.89
• Cultural familiarity and activities: 0.84
• Cultural identification and pride: 0.89

These high alpha values, ranging from 0.84 to 0.91, indicate that the items within each factor are highly intercorrelated and reliably measure their respective domains of cultural lifestyle.

Factor Analysis

The CLSI is structured around five empirically derived factors that categorize cultural practices and affiliations. These factors are:

1. Intra-family language use (e.g., language spoken with parents/siblings).
2. Extra-family language use (e.g., language used with friends, media consumption).
3. Social affiliation and activities (e.g., ethnic background of friends, dating partners, neighborhood).
4. Cultural familiarity and activities (e.g., knowledge of national anthems, celebration of holidays).
5. Cultural identification and pride (e.g., preferred identity, cultural pride).

Scoring of the 29 items categorizes respondents into one of the three acculturation styles based on their response patterns:

• Cultural Resistance (CR): Typically represented by responses focused on the heritage culture (e.g., options ‘a’ or ‘b’).
• Cultural Shift (CS): Typically represented by responses focused on the receiving culture (e.g., options ‘c’ or ‘d’).
• Cultural Incorporation (CI): Typically represented by balanced responses (e.g., option ‘e’).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Acculturation Inventory

Format: 29 multiple-choice items (typically 5 to 7 options per item)

Language Available: English (Items reference Spanish/Mexican culture vs. English/Anglo-American culture)

Population Group: Mexican American and Latino populations

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults

Population Details: Primarily used with individuals of Mexican heritage residing in the United States who navigate bicultural environments.

Test Methodology: Assesses cultural orientation based on observed behavioral practices (language, media, food, social interaction) and self-identification/attitudes.

Keywords

Acculturation Scale, Cultural Identity, Biculturalism, Mexican American Psychology, Latino Studies, Cronbach’s alpha, Immigration Stress.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: R. Mendoza, California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, CA (Based on 1994 citation)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was originally published in 1989, with Version 2.0 released in 1994. The instrument is documented in the publication available through Springer. Information regarding permissions and fees should be sought directly from the author or the publisher associated with the reference text, Davis and Engel (2011). The instrument can be found at: http://www.springer.com/978-1-4419-6696-4.

Reference’s

• Davis LE and Engel RJ. Measuring Race and Ethnicity. New York, NY: Springer 2011.
• Mendoza, R. H. (1989). An empirical scale to measure type and degree of acculturation in Mexican-American adolescents and adults. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 20, 372–385.
• Mendoza, R. (1994). Cultural life styles inventory. Version 2.0. Los Angeles, CA, California School of Professional Psychology. Author.

Items of the Cultural Life Styles Inventory (Version 2.0)

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

1. What language do you use when you speak with your grandparents?

____a. Only Spanish

____b. More Spanish than English

____c. More English than Spanish

____d. Only English

____e. Both English and Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I do not have any grandparents

2. What language do you use when you speak with your parents?

____a. Only Spanish

____b. More Spanish than English

____c. More English than Spanish

____d. Only English

____e. Both English and Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I do not have any parents

3. What language do you use when you speak with your brothers and sisters?

____a. Only Spanish

____b. More Spanish than English

____c. More English than Spanish

____d. Only English

____e. Both English and Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I do not have any brothers or sisters

4. What language do you use when you speak with your spouse or person you live with?

____a. Only Spanish

____b. More Spanish than English

____c. More English than Spanish

____d. Only English

____e. Both English and Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I am not married

5. What language do you use when you speak with your children?

____a. Only Spanish

____b. More Spanish than English

____c. More English than Spanish

____d. Only English

____e. Both English and Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I do not have any children

6. What language do you use when you speak with your closet friends?

____a. Only Spanish

____b. More Spanish than English

____c. More English than Spanish

____d. Only English

____e. Both English and Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

7. What language records, tapes, or compact discs do you own?

____a. Only Spanish-speaking records, tapes, and compact discs

____b. Mostly Spanish-speaking records, tapes, and compact discs

____c. Mostly English-speaking records, tapes, and compact discs

____d. Only English-speaking records, tapes, and compact discs

____e. Both English- and Spanish-speaking records, tapes, and compact discs about equally

____f. Records tapes and compact discs in other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I do not own any records, tapes, or compact discs

8. What kind of radio stations do you listen to?

____a. Only Spanish-speaking radio stations

____b. Mostly Spanish-speaking radio stations

____c. Mostly English-speaking radio stations

____d. Only English-speaking radio stations

____e. Both English- and Spanish-speaking radio stations about equally

____f. Radio stations in other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

9. What kind of TV programs do you watch?

____a. Only Spanish-speaking TV programs

____b. Mostly Spanish-speaking TV programs

____c. Mostly English-speaking TV programs

____d. Only English-speaking TV programs

____e. Both English- and Spanish-speaking TV programs about equally

____f. TV programs in other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

10. What kind of newspapers and magazines do you read?

____a. Only newspapers and magazines in Spanish

____b. Mostly newspapers and magazines in Spanish

____c. Mostly newspapers and magazines in English

____d. Only newspapers and magazines in English

____e. Both newspapers and magazines in English and Spanish about equally

____f. Newspapers and magazines in other language (please specify:: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

11. In what language do you pray?

____a. Only Spanish

____b. More Spanish than English

____c. More English than Spanish

____d. Only English

____e. Both English and Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I do not pray

12. In what language are the jokes with which you are familiar?

____a. All are in Spanish

____b. More are in Spanish than in English

____c. More are in English than in Spanish

____d. All are in English

____e. Some are in English and some are in Spanish about equally

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

13. What kind of foods do you typically eat at home?

____a. Only Mexican foods

____b. Mostly Mexican foods

____c. Mostly American (US) foods

____d. Both American (US) and Mexican foods about equally

____e. Other types of foods (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

14. What kind of restaurants do you typically eat?

____a. Only at Mexican restaurants

____b. Mostly at Mexican restaurants

____c. Mostly at non-Mexican restaurants

____d. Only at non-Mexican restaurants

____f. Other types of restaurants (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

15. What is the ethnic background of your closet friends?

____a. All are Mexican or Mexican American

____b. Most are Mexican or Mexican American

____c. Most are Anglo American

____d. All are Anglo American

____e. Both Anglo American and Mexican/Mexican American about equally

____f. Other ethnic group (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

16. What is the ethnic background of the people that you have dated?

____a. All are Mexican or Mexican American

____b. Most are Mexican or Mexican American

____c. Most are Anglo American

____d. All are Anglo American

____e. Both Anglo American and Mexican/Mexican American about equally

____f. Other ethnic group (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I have never dated anyone

17. When you go to social functions such as parties, dances, picnics, or sports events, what is the ethnic background of the people that you tend to go with?

____a. Always with Mexicans or Mexican Americans

____b. Mostly with Mexicans or Mexican Americans

____c. Mostly with Anglo Americans

____d. Always with Anglo Americans

____e. Both with Anglo Americans and Mexicans/Mexican Americans about equally

____f. Other ethnic group (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

18. What is the ethnic composition of the neighborhood where you live?

____a. Only Mexican or Mexican American

____b. Mostly Mexican or Mexican American

____c. Mostly Anglo American

____d. Only Anglo American

____e. Both Anglo American and Mexican/Mexican American about equally

____f. Other ethnic group (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

19. Which national anthem do you know?

____a. Only the Mexican National anthem

____b. Mostly the Mexican national anthem

____c. Mostly the American (US) national anthem

____d. Only the American (US) national anthem

____e. Both the American (US) and Mexican national anthems about equally

____f. Neither the American (US) nor the Mexican national anthems

20. Which national or cultural heritage do you feel most proud of?

____a. Unquestionably my Mexican heritage

____b. Primarily my Mexican heritage

____c. Primarily my American (US) heritage

____d. Unquestionably my American (US) heritage

____e. Both my American (US) and Mexican heritage about equally

____f. Other national or cultural heritage (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

21. What types of national or cultural holidays (such as Fourth of July and Dieciséis De Septiembre) do you typically celebrate?

____a. Only Mexican holidays

____b. Mostly Mexican holidays

____c. Mostly American (US) holidays

____d. Only American (US) holidays

____e. Both American (US) and Mexican holidays about equally

____f. Other national or cultural holidays (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

____g. I do not celebrate any national or cultural holidays

22. What is the ethnic background of the movie stars and popular singers that you most admire?

____a. All are Mexican, Mexican American, or Latino

____b. Most are Mexican, Mexican American, or Latino

____c. Most are Anglo American

____d. All are Anglo American

____e. Some are Anglo American and some are Mexican, Mexican American, or Latino about equally

____f. Other ethnic group (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

23. If you had a choice, what is the ethnic background of the person that you would marry?

____a. Most definitely a Mexican or Mexican American

____b. Preferably a Mexican or Mexican American

____c. Preferably an Anglo American

____d. Most definitely an Anglo American

____e. Either an Anglo American or a Mexican/Mexican American, it would not matter to me

____f. Other ethnic group (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

24. If you had children, what types of names would you give them?

____a. Most definitely Spanish or Mexican names

____b. Probably Spanish or Mexican names

____c. Probably English or Anglo-American names

____d. Most definitely English or Anglo-American names

____e. Either English/Anglo-American or Spanish/Mexican names, it would not matter to me

____f. Other ethnic names (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

25. If you had children, in what language would you teach them to read, write, and speak?

____a. Only in Spanish (with no English)

____b. Primarily in Spanish (with some English)

____c. Primarily in English (with some Spanish)

____d. Only in English (with no Spanish)

____e. Equally in both English and Spanish

____f. Other language (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

26. Which culture and way of life do you believe is responsible for the social problems (such as poverty, teenage pregnancies, and gangs) found in some Mexican American communities?

____a. Only the Mexican culture

____b. Mostly the Mexican culture

____c. Mostly the American (US) culture

____d. Only the American (US) culture

____e. Both American (US) and Mexican cultures about equally

____f. Other (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

27. At what kind of stores do you typically shop?

____a. Only in stores that have Spanish-speaking workers

____b. Primarily at stores that have Spanish-speaking workers

____c. Primarily at stores that have English-speaking workers

____d. Only in stores that have English-speaking workers

____e. Both, at stores that have English-speaking workers and at stores that have Spanish-speaking workers about equally

____f. Other types of stores (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

28. How do you prefer to be identified?

____a. Most definitely as a Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Latino, or Hispanic

____b. Preferably as a Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Latino, or Hispanic

____c. Preferably as an American, Anglo American, or Caucasian

____d. Most definitely as an American, Anglo American, or Caucasian

____e. Either as an American/Anglo American/Caucasian or as a Mexican/Mexican American/Chicano/Latino/Hispanic, I have no preference

____f. Other group (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)

29. Which culture and way of life would you say has had the most positive influence on your life?

____a. Most definitely the Mexican culture

____b. Probably the Mexican culture

____c. Probably the American (US) culture

____d. Most definitely the American (US) culture

____e. Both American (US) and Mexican cultures about equally

____f. Other culture (please specify: -‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎–‎-)