Background:

Culture is the backbone of who we are, and many individuals come from multicultural or immigrant backgrounds, yet many of those struggle with the feeling of being stuck between two or more cultural, spiritual, or geographic identities. This internal conflict can lead to confusion, stress, and difficulty with self-acceptance. Children of immigrants, first-generation Americans, or people raised in one tradition but educated in another can often feel these heavy tensions quietly without understanding or getting the support to explore them. 

Research Summary:

In multicultural counseling, it's quite important to recognize the emotional strain of bicultural identity integration. The research article, "Bicultural Identity in Childhood" by Trifiletti et al. (2022), validated a two-part model of bicultural identity: harmony versus conflict and blending versus compartmentalization. The development of the BIIS-C highlights that even children experience complex cultural negotiations and that these experiences can affect their emotional well-being, stress levels, and overall judgment. For counselors, this means that children and people overall should not be overlooked in conversations about bicultural identity and that their experiences are measurable and meaningful. The principles can be used as a diagnostic tool in multicultural counseling settings to better assess where a child is struggling with identity or even just reflect on an adult's childhood, too.