Acculturation process, adjustment and linguistic practices in an Italian village

This chapter presents a quantitative study that explores the adjustment and characteristics of the acculturation process in two groups of adolescents differentiated by mother tongue (Italian vs. other languages). The participants were 296 adolescents, 78.4% of whom had Italian as their mother tongue (ITL1) and 21.6% of whom had a different mother tongue (ITL2). The participants completed a questionnaire in the school context. The results show a condition in which ITL2 adolescents tend to be assimilated to the recipient country. In ITL2, native identity and self-esteem do not correlate; ITL1 have higher levels of self-esteem, which correlates with acculturation dimensions. Regional codes assume a relevant role in ITL1 adjustment. The data suggest an unwelcoming socio-cultural context with cultural codes from abroad. Future challenges in developing knowledge and interventions are briefly discussed.