| The purpose of this study is to investigate how Chinese and Taiwanese wives experience the acculturation process and how their spouse influences their acculturation to the U.S. A phenomenological qualitative research design proposed by Moustakas (1994), a participant observation approach, and a constant comparison analysis were employed to collect and analyze the data. Qualitative themes were analyzed based on Berry's acculturation model. Berry's (1970, 1974, 2010, 013) acculturation model includes four stages of assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization. Five out of the six participants expressed that they felt comfortable to adopt to the U.S. way of direct communication styles, easy social interactions, and social equality. All six participants expressed that they integrated financial management from both the U.S. culture and the Chinese or Taiwanese culture. All six participants continued to following Chinese style of a healthy diet. All six participants experienced Berry's stage of marginalization resulting from their accent and a communication style.;The participants shared that their acculturation process influenced by their spouse or not was their decision. When the participants chose not to be influenced by their spouse, they did not receive much influences from their spouse. When the participants chose to be influenced by their spouse, they obtained significant emotional support and constant assistance from their spouse.;KEY WORDS: Chinese and Taiwanese wives, acculturation process, spousal influence, assimilation, integration, separation, marginalization, adjustment. |
