A profile analysis of triadic acculturation gaps in Chinese Canadian immigrant families

Previous research on the impacts of acculturation gaps among immigrant family members has produced inconsistent findings, likely due to the limitations of variable-centered approaches, focus on parent-child dyads, and a deficit-based perspective. This study addressed these limitations by using a person-centered approach to identify triadic family (mother-father-adolescent) acculturation profiles and examining how these profiles are related to family functioning (i.e., family conflicts, parent-child relational congruence) and individual well-being (i.e., depressive symptoms, self-esteem). With a sample of 161 Chinese Canadian immigrant families (i.e., 483 participants), we used latent profile analyses to generate mother-father-adolescent acculturation profiles based on each family member's reports of heritage and host identities. Five distinct profiles emerged. The most prevalent was the undifferentiated family profile (62.73%), characterized by average endorsements of both heritage and host identities, which has been overlooked in past variable-centered studies. In addition to the commonly theorized and expected acculturation gaps, we identified prevalent reversed acculturation gaps (where parents are more acculturated to the host culture and/or the child more acculturated to the heritage culture; 25.47%) and spousal gaps (37.27%), revealing complexity in acculturation processes that has not been fully captured in previous research. Importantly, our findings suggest that not all acculturation gaps are harmful; in some cases, they may even support resilience. This research underscores the value of a person-centered perspective in understanding family acculturation and calls for more nuanced, context-sensitive approaches in supporting immigrant families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).