Changes in Ethnic Self-Identification and Heritage Language Preference in Adolescence: A Cross-Lagged Panel Study

Abstract

This study analyses data of the U.S. Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study and focuses on the relations and changes in ethnic self-identification and preferred language use from early to late adolescence. The findings show that over time (pan-)ethnic self-identification increased and preference to use the heritage language decreased from early to late adolescence. These results were found to be influence by period effects. Furthermore, self-identification and language use predicted each other over time. However, there were differences between adolescents from Spanish speaking (Latin American) immigrant families and adolescents from non-Spanish speaking (Asian) immigrant families. Ethnic self-identification and heritage language preference was stronger in the Asian subsample. In addition, ethnic self-identification is found to influence preferred language use for the Spanish speaking group, while language preference predicted ethnic self-identification over time among Asian adolescents.