The Latinx Acculturation Index (LAI): Reexamining the Factor Structure and Convergent Validity of an Updated Acculturation Scale

Acculturation is essential because of its relationship to important health outcomes for Latinxs. Yet, little agreement exists on how acculturation is best measured. The present study updated and examined the psychometric properties of a previously validated acculturation measure by testing two competing factor structures and the construct and criterion validity using other available proxies. In addition, the present study focused on establishing low-burden scales to replace proxy measures in acculturation and health research. The present study used a crowdsourced population identifying as Latino/a/x or Hispanic (N = 298) between the ages of 18 and 65, who were fluent in English and living in the United States. Overall, the domain model of the Latinx Enculturation Dimension Domain (non-normed fit index [NNFI] = .98, relative fit index = .97, Tucker-Lewis index = .99, incremental fit index = .99, and comparative fit index = .99) and the White American Acculturation Dimension Domain (NNFI = .93, relative fit index = .89, Tucker-Lewis index = .91, incremental fit index = .95, and comparative fit index = .95) scales demonstrated the more robust factor structure compared to the bidimensional models. All alphas for the domain subscales were above .70, except for the language domain of the White American Acculturation Dimension Domain. Overall, the Latin Enculturation Dimension and White American Dimension Domains demonstrated the ability to distinguish between generational status groups and measure differences in Spanish use and Latinx and White American relationships among Latinxs living in traditional and nontraditional resettlement communities. While the four-item versions of each scale demonstrated promise, only the Latin Enculturation Dimension Domain-4 consistently demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. Additional research is required to establish the validity of the shortened versions of each scale.