Intergenerational value mismatch in immigrant families, also termed acculturation gap, is well documented. However, in increasingly diverse societies, the generalizability of this phenomenon across immigrant groups, across dimensions and domains of acculturation, and across different receiving societies is questionable. This comparative study investigated mother–adolescent acculturation gaps of two diaspora immigrant samples, who had lived in the former Soviet Union for generations, across two receiving societies (Germany vs. Israel), across two dimensions (ethnic vs. host) in two domains of adaptation (behavioural: language vs. cognitive: identity). In addition, we investigated whether these acculturation gaps are detrimental or beneficial for mother–adolescent communication. Participants comprised 342 diaspora immigrants divided into 80 German repatriate mother–adolescent dyads in Germany (adolescents' mean age: 16.9 years, 48.8% female) and 91 Russian Jewish mother–adolescent dyads in Israel (adolescents' mean age: 15.8 years, 51.6% female) who were interviewed in person at their homes. Results indicated diaspora-specific effects in ethnic identity, with adolescents identifying more closely with their ethnic culture than their mothers. Our study highlights that acculturation gaps can undermine parent–child-communication across both contexts, although we also found some context-specific effects. © 2018 International Union of Psychological Science

Acculturation gaps Mother–adolescent dyads Diaspora immigrants Family interaction Child disclosure

Germany immigrant Israel human controlled study Humans migrant psychology Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female family interaction adolescent mother Mothers cultural factor Parent-Child Relations identity Article Family Relations major clinical study mother human experiment family relation child parent relation Child