Assimilation or Striking a Bicultural Balance? Acculturation Profiles Among Turkish Immigrant Parents in Four European Countries

Abstract

The current study examined the acculturation profiles among Turkish immigrant parents (n = 943) in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, hereby considering the different national integration policies. Using a data-driven approach by applying Latent Profile Analysis, we identified four acculturation profiles in the total sample as well as in the samples per country: assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization. Although nearly complete metric measurement equivalence of the profiles across countries was established, one deviating profile was found in the Netherlands. The profiles across countries differed in size, which was tentatively related to the predominant integration policies of the countries. In England, characterized by a relatively multicultural national integration policy, the integration profile was more prominent compared to other countries, whereas in countries with a stronger emphasis on assimilation (the Netherlands, Norway regarding language education) or with a history of exclusion and segregation (Germany), the assimilation and separation profiles were relatively large. Implications for national and local policy are discussed in the light of the pressure on immigrants, especially parents, to assimilate into the majority society.