Multidimensional Acculturation and Identity of Russian

Although recent research has explored the experiences of immigrants in Canada, few researchers have focused on invisible immigrants, and Russian-speaking immigrants in particular. The invisible nature of these immigrants may affect their identity and acculturation following their arrival in their new country. Parents are an important factor in the developmental experience of adolescence, and thus their role in identity and acculturation was the focus of the current study. Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 decimal- and second-generation Russian-speaking immigrant youth (15 to 19 years of age). A substantive theory of the role of parents in the identity and acculturation of these youth was developed. Results indicated that youth reported that their parents played a direct role in transmitting culture and influencing their identity in five different ways. The consequent identities of these youth were multidimensional. Moreover, the timing of migration (in the lives of the parents and youth, and in relation to the political context) also affected parents’ decision making and socialization practices. In turn, these factors and practices also affected the relationship between the youth and their parents in a bidirectional manner. Implications for research and practice are discussed