Double the Culture, Double the Opportunities: Helping Bicultural Adolescents

in Cultural Stressors / Identity Formation / Parenting  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Nancy Lavinghousez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program

BICULTURAL IDENTITYrefers to those who belong to two distinct cultural groups, requiring them to both navigate and integrate both cultures’ values, customs, languages, and social norms into one’s sense of self. The process, though enriching at times, can pose unique challenges to bicultural adolescents who are already exploring their own personal identity while experiencing confusing shifts in hormones and while searching for independence from their parents/caregivers. Adolescence encompasses a period of dynamic emotional and social growth, and carrying a bicultural identity can provide both cultural strengths (like family and community support) and cultural challenges (like discrimination or pressure to fit in with mainstream culture). These experiences influence how adolescents cope during this stage. Support from parents and caregivers during these challenges helps nurture healthier attitudes and a stronger sense of self-esteem. How can parents/caregivers provide support and help adolescents build resilience during this time?

Common challenges:

  • Feeling “in between”, stuck, or that they do not fully belong to either culture
  • Pressure to meet different expectations (e.g., prioritizing family needs vs. following self-interest)
  • Identity uncertainty, such as who am I or which part of me feels most authentic?
  • Misunderstandings between parents/caregivers and adolescents if they acculturate at different paces (e.g., parents/caregivers want to pass on traditions while adolescents want to blend in)
  • Difficulties for families to navigate potential generational gaps as adolescents grow up primarily in a different culture than parents/caregivers

How to help bicultural adolescents:

  • Normalize that the challenges of bicultural identity can feel both enriching with exposure to unique heritages, traditions, or languages, and confusing to navigate two cultures that can be very different or even feel they are in conflict
  • Emphasize the strength that bicultural identity contributes to wider perspectives and increased empathy from having a multicultural lens
  • Emphasize bicultural adolescents have a superpower to “code-switch” (the act of switching between languages) or “frame-switch” (the act of adjusting thoughts and behaviors appropriate to the cultural context) by being adaptable and flexible in various environments
  • Discuss how bicultural identity can be a source of pride and an asset
  • Acknowledge that it is normal to feel shift between cultures depending on context

An important message for parents/caregivers is to listen to your adolescents without imposing judgement as they describe their experience growing up in two cultures. A goal is for them not to feel torn if parents/caregivers are dismissive or critical of either culture. Open conversations also provide parents/caregivers with opportunities to share their own cultural stories which may instill curiosity in adolescents to connect with their family culture. Providing space for them to explore the culture they most identify with at the moment can help build connection and trust. Lastly, remember to acknowledge the challenges of bicultural identity while reminding them biculturalism leads to opportunities for richer life experiences.

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References

The Oxford Review. (2025, May 28). Bicultural identity – Definition and explanation. https://oxford-review.com/the-oxford-review-dei-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dictionary/bicultural-identity-definition-and-explanation/

Safa, M. D., White, R. M. B., & Knight, G. P. (2020). Family contextual influences on bicultural competence development among U.S. Mexican-origin youths. Developmental Psychology, 56(8), 1596-1609. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001022

Tyrell, F. A., & Eboigbe, L. I. (2023, June). Promoting resilience and healthy adaptation among immigrant-origin youth and their families. The Link. Cerebral Institute. https://www.resiliencelab.us/the-link/promoting-resilience-and-healthy-adaptation-among-immigrant-origin-youth-and-their-families

Um, Y.-J. (2024). The Relationship between Bicultural Acceptance Attitude and Self-Esteem among Multicultural Adolescents: The Mediating Effects of Parental Support. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(9), 1175. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091175