Family acculturation: Understanding the acculturation gap through the caregiver-adolescent dyad

Family acculturation has been understood as a constellation of factors that impact caregiver-adolescent dyads. Differences in acculturation levels between caregivers and adolescents, typically referred to as acculturation gaps, often result in family conflict that leads to youth's negative mental and physical health outcomes. This chapter discusses the conceptualization and measurement of the family acculturation gap. This chapter also discusses contextualizing factors (e.g., communication and value discrepancies, family conflict, and caregiving practices) that help explain why and how family acculturation gaps are related to negative youth outcomes. Clinical, prevention, and intervention recommendations addressing bilingual and multicultural humility issues related to the family acculturation gap are also discussed.