Bicultural identity in childhood: Preliminary validation of the Bicultural Identity Integration Scale for Children (BIIS-C).

Objective: In the present study, we adapted and validated the Bicultural Identity Integration Scale for Children (BIIS-C).

Method: 259 bicultural children (119 males, 140 females; = 11.07, = 1.24) were provided with a questionnaire. Based on adult versions of the scale, we tested the factorial structure of a set of 11 nonreversed items tapping into harmony (vs. conflict; six items) and blendedness (vs. compartmentalization; five items) dimensions.

Results: A two-factor model was compared with a one-factor model. In line with research on adults, results showed that the two-factor model (with nine items) fitted the data better than the one-factor model. The two dimensions yielded reliable scores and were correlated in the expected direction with personality variables, acculturation attitudes, and perceived discrimination.

Conclusions: The BIIS-C provides valid and reliable scores for research on biculturalism in childhood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).