Initial Development and Validation of the Mexican Intercultural Competence Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Cultural Studies

Background:

• Effective intercultural interactions are crucial for adaptation.
• Existing measures may not capture the nuances of Mexican descent cultural competence.
• Developing culturally specific assessment tools is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Mexican Intercultural Competence Scale (MICS).
• To identify key factors contributing to intercultural competence among adults of Mexican descent.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Exploratory Factor Analysis (N=184) to identify initial factors.
• Study 2: Confirmatory Factor Analysis (N=341) to validate the factor structure.
• Participants: Adults of Mexican descent in the U.S. Midwest.

Main Results:

• Five factors emerged: Ambition/Perseverance, Networking, Traditional Latino Culture, Family Relationships, and Communication.
• The 5-factor model demonstrated good fit in Study 2, supporting MICS validity.
• The scale effectively assesses group-specific skills for cultural interactions.

Conclusions:

• The MICS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing intercultural competence in adults of Mexican descent.
• Findings support a competence-based approach to understanding cultural adaptation.
• The scale has implications for theoretical development and clinical practice in multicultural contexts.