When migrants move to a new country, it can often be a challenge to balance the culture of their homeland with that of their new home. Research from Binghamton University highlights how beneficial it is for migrant couples when they’re able to strike this balance successfully.
“When immigrants venture into a new country, they embark on a journey of blending cultures while keeping their roots alive,” the researchers explain. “There has been limited research on how their ability to adjust to a new culture while embracing the cultures of their homeland can affect the relationship.”
Striking a balance
The researchers developed a model to understand the impact culture has on family dynamics. A key part of the model was the level of cultural competence within the couple and its impact on whether they engage with their environment and successfully navigate the two cultures. It’s something they refer to as “dyadic bicultural competence”.
“The construct of dyadic bicultural competence says that you can take advantage of your partner’s ability to navigate different cultural contexts, even if you, yourself, are not able to,” they explain. “If you don’t speak the language or you’re not familiar with cultural norms, but your partner is, you’re going to be able to navigate those contexts, to kind of share in each other’s strengths.”
The researchers believe that the level of bicultural competence is a key marker in determining the overall quality of the relationship, with those couples with lower levels of competence experiencing greater declines in the quality of their relationship over time.
“A migrant’s capacity to speak their heritage language, uphold cherished cultural values, and stay connected with their extended family can be just as vital for their overall well-being as their adaptation to the new culture,” the researchers conclude. “More specifically, we argue that couples who make the move to a new country shoulder the shared responsibility of navigating multiple cultural landscapes. This shared cultural journey can yield both advantages and challenges for individuals and their relationships.”
