The Ethnic Identity Journey of 1.5 Generation Asian American College Students
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University of Northern Colorado Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC Dissertations Student Research 8-2018 The thnicE Identity Journey of 1.5 Generation Asian American College Students Nadia Anisa Benyamin Follow this and additional works at: https://digscholarship.unco.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Benyamin, Nadia Anisa, "The thnicE Identity Journey of 1.5 Generation Asian American College Students" (2018). Dissertations. 477. https://digscholarship.unco.edu/dissertations/477 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © 2018 NADIA ANISA BENYAMIN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO Greeley, Colorado The Graduate School THE ETHNIC IDENTITY JOURNEY OF 1.5 GENERATION ASIAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nadia Anisa Benyamin College of Education and Behavioral Sciences School of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education School Psychology August 2018 This Dissertation by: Nadia Anisa Benyamin Entitled: The Ethnic Identity Journey of 1.5 Generation Asian American College Students has been approved as meeting the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in College of Education and Behavioral Sciences in School of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education, Program of School Psychology. Accepted by the Doctoral Committee Michele S. Athanasiou, Ph.D., Research Advisor Robyn S. Hess, Ph.D., Committee Member Basilia Softas-Nall, Ph.D., Committee Member Jingzi Huang, Ph.D., Faculty Representative Date of Dissertation Defense Accepted by the Graduate School Linda L. Black, Ed.D. Associate Provost and Dean Graduate School and International Admissions ABSTRACT Benyamin, Nadia. The Ethnic Identity Journey of 1.5 Generation Asian Americans. Published Doctor of Philosophy dissertation, University of Northern Colorado, 2018. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study is to explore the ethnic identity journey of 1.5 generation Asian American college students. The study seeks to answer how the ethnic identity perception of the 1.5 generation Asian American college students has transformed from arrival in the United States to present and how native and English language engagement as well as acculturation experiences have impacted the 1.5 generation Asian American college students’ perceptions of ethnic identity. The data for this study were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews with five Asian American college students who self-identify as 1.5 generation individuals or having moved to the United States between the ages of 6 to 13. Data were interpreted using the Moustakas (1994) guidelines for conducting and analyzing phenomenological research. The essence of the 1.5 generation Asian American experience in their path toward ethnic identity discovery included five main themes: relearning school, language and acceptance, acculturation experiences, finding the self, and connecting with origin. This research provides human service professionals and others that work directly with immigrant youth with a better understanding of the ethnic identity journey and possible short- and long-term psychosocial impacts of immigration for the 1.5 generation youth. iii This research is my contribution to today's literature on the Asian American youth and their often invisible but always present struggles. Keywords: phenomenology, qualitative study, 1.5 generation, Asian Americans, Acculturation, Asian students, Identity, Ethnic Identity iv DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my daughter, Aliya, who was the sole motivation to finish the race I started in 2011. To my husband, Armand, thank you for always being the constant source of quiet strength and patience in my life. I thank my parents, Ben and Eliza, who made the tough decision to leave everything behind and move with two young girls to the other side of the world in order to show us the world. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................. 6 Context of the Study ................................................................................................. 7 Rationale .................................................................................................................. 8 Research Questions ................................................................................................ 12 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................ 12 Summary………………………………………………………… ........................... 17 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 18 Who is the 1.5 Generation Individual? .................................................................... 18 Growing up as a 1.5 Generation Child .................................................................... 20 The Model Minority Struggle ................................................................................. 23 Language and Cultural Loss among 1.5 Generation ................................................ 25 Educational Implications of Being a 1.5 Generation ............................................... 28 Defining Identity and Ethnic Identity ...................................................................... 30 Link between Language and Ethnic Identity ........................................................... 32 Personal Identity Development for the 1.5 Generation ............................................ 34 Personal Identity Development in College .............................................................. 35 Ethnic Identity Development .................................................................................. 38 Asian American Ethnic Identity Development ........................................................ 40 Ethnic Identity Development in College ................................................................. 42 Summary ................................................................................................................ 44 III. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................. 46 Researcher as Instrument ........................................................................................ 47 Research Paradigm ................................................................................................. 50 Trustworthiness ...................................................................................................... 68 Summary ................................................................................................................ 69 IV. PRESENTATION OF DATA ................................................................................. 71 Collection of Data .................................................................................................. 71 Participants ............................................................................................................. 72 Preparation for Interviews ...................................................................................... 77 Interviews ............................................................................................................... 78 Documentation ....................................................................................................... 82 Data Analysis ......................................................................................................... 84 Composite Textural-Structural Descriptions. ........................................................ 115 vi Summary .............................................................................................................. 138 V. DISCUSSION, IMPLICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... 139 Interpretations of Findings in Comparison with .................................................... 140 Literature Review and Theory .............................................................................. 140 Implications for Practice and Research ................................................................. 157 Recommendations for Future Studies ................................................................... 161 Limitations of the Study ....................................................................................... 163 Summary .............................................................................................................. 164 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………165 APPENDICES A. Sample Interview Guide ....................................................................................... 192 B. Background Questionnaire.................................................................................... 198 C. Recruitment Letter ................................................................................................ 200 D. Institutional Review Board Approval .................................................................... 203 E. Consent Forms ....................................................................................................