A measure of acculturation for Afro-Caribbean youth.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a measure of acculturation for Afro-Caribbean teens who might be at high risk for Sexually Transmitted Disease including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Adaptation needs become challenging as many Caribbean immigrants to the United States who are undocumented or without financial fortitude, often live in substandard urban communities with highest rates of HIV and STDs. After obtaining permission to revise the instruments and participants' consents, two existing measures of acculturation were used in this instrument development. Eight Afro-Caribbean adolescents served as judges to revise the instruments for appropriateness to Afro-Caribbean culture; they developed a composite of the two instruments. Afro-Caribbean community experts and a researcher with instrument development expertise further checked for readability and content validity. The new instrument with good content validity and high reliability was tested among 42 Afro-Caribbean youth. The results are discussed.