Background: Acculturation has been identified as a determinant of health behavior and outcome among ethnic minorities. The high prevalence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases and risk factors among Korean immigrants calls for a valid short acculturation scale to use in clinical practice and health research settings. Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the psychometric properties of a short acculturation scale originally developed for Hispanics after translating the scale to Korean (SAS-K) to determine its suitability for use with Korean immigrants. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 143 Korean immigrants with Type 2 diabetes aged 30-80 years from a Korean community in Southern California. Confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, and internal reliability were utilized to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SAS-K. Results: Using a second-order confirmatory factor analysis, a 3-factor structure, χ(51) = 121.49, p < .001 (comparative fit index = .950, standardized root mean squared residual = .055, root mean square error of approximation = .099), was confirmed. The SAS-K was associated positively with length of residence, age of arrival, and English proficiency. Reliability for the total SAS-K was .93. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for each subscale of the SAS-K ranged from .80 (Ethnic Social Relations) to .95 (Media). Discussion: The 12-item, easy-to-use SAS-K showed satisfactory reliability and validity and, thus, is an appropriate instrument for measuring acculturation in Korean immigrants. The short nature and ease of administration of the SAS-K make it an ideal choice for healthcare providers and researchers to assess acculturation levels quickly and easily and to further the development and use of more culture-appropriate interventions. Copyright © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

psychometric validation short acculturation scale Korean immigrants

South Korea Republic of Korea human Factor Analysis, Statistical validation study middle aged Aged ethnology United States Humans California Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation Aged, 80 and over Asian American female reproducibility Reproducibility of Results questionnaire cultural factor Psychometrics psychometry Article Questionnaires adult migration factorial analysis