ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the development and validation of the Asian Cultural Identity Schedule (ACIS). Acculturative changes may be the consequences of direct cultural transmissions. The chapter examines the face and content validity of the ACIS and consider the implications of the findings for the better understanding of deliberate self-harm behaviour as a function of acculturative stress associated with identity development. Decision making in the household is traditionally associated with elders, especially males, making decisions on a number of issues within the household. In Asian families the fact that decisions are still made by the older males suggests that traditionalist views still prevail. Decisions linked with inter-racial relationships provide a high degree of reliance on traditionalist views. Cultural identity for Asians can be measured using the Asian Cultural Identity Schedule, which contains sections on cultural, structural, and interaction assimilation. It is recommended that the questionnaire be used for measuring cultural identity and gender differences.
