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Acculturation Strategies Among Ethnic Minority Workers and the Role of Intercultural Personality Traits

University of Groningen, K.Luijters{at}rug.nl

Karen I. van der Zee

University of Groningen

Sabine Otten

University of Groningen

In an increasingly diverse work context minority employees strive to place and define themselves in terms of work and cultural identities. Based on Berry’s acculturation model (1990), we defined and tested preferred acculturation strategies at work. It was predicted that the dual identity, reflecting strong cultural identity maintenance combined with strong team identity adoption, is the most preferred strategy at work. The present study among non-Dutch employees working in The Netherlands (N = 108) showed that the dual identity is indeed preferred over strong team identity adoption, but solely among minority members who are emotionally stable. It is argued that these people are competent in dealing with the extra conflict and diversity-related stress that this acculturation strategy produces.

Key Words: diversity • acculturation at work • dual identity • emotional stability

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Luijters, K. Articles by Otten, S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?