Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale – LAECA

Q: How is the Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale – LAECA scored?

Scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation levels: Low Acculturation (Spanish/Hispanic Oriented) (1-2), Bicultural (2-3), High Acculturation (English/US Oriented) (3-5).

Q: Is the Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale – LAECA free?

Yes, this assessment is completely free. You will receive your results immediately after completion, with an optional AI-powered personalized interpretation.

Mohammed looti

Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale – LAECA

Measures the level of acculturation among Hispanic populations across language use, social activities, and ethnic background.

26 Questions

~7 min

Custom

Scale Development & Technical Details

Scale Overview

The Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale – LAECA was developed by M. Audrey Burnam, Richard L. Hough, Carlos A. Telles, Janis I. Escobar (1987). It is designed to measure Acculturation. The scale is intended for use with Hispanic/Mexican American adults.

Scale Structure

This instrument consists of 26 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Language Use and Preference, Social Activities and Environment, Ethnic Background and Demographic History.

Factor / Subscale	Items	N
Language Use and Preference	2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14	13
Social Activities and Environment	15,16,17,18,19,20,21	7
Ethnic Background and Demographic History	1,22,23,24,25,26	6

Response Format

Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.

Response anchors: 1 = Spanish only / All Hispanic / All of the time / First generation, 2 = Mostly Spanish / Most Hispanic / Most of the time / Second generation, 3 = Both equally / Half Hispanic / Half of the time / Third generation, 4 = Mostly English / Few Hispanic / Sometimes / Fourth generation, 5 = English only / None Hispanic / Never / Fifth generation.

Scoring

Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.

Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:

Low Acculturation (Spanish/Hispanic Oriented): 1 – 2
Bicultural: 2 – 3
High Acculturation (English/US Oriented): 3 – 5

Psychometric Properties

Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.97.

Administration

The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.

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About You

Please provide the following information before starting the assessment. This data is used for research purposes only and will remain confidential.

Gender *

Age *

Education Level

Country / Nationality

Instructions

Please answer the following questions by selecting the option that best describes your background, language use, and social preferences.

1 Spanish only / All Hispanic / All of the time / First generation

2 Mostly Spanish / Most Hispanic / Most of the time / Second generation

3 Both equally / Half Hispanic / Half of the time / Third generation

4 Mostly English / Few Hispanic / Sometimes / Fourth generation

5 English only / None Hispanic / Never / Fifth generation

What generation are you? (1 = First, 2 = Second, 3 = Third, 4 = Fourth, 5 = Fifth)

Spanish only / All Hispanic / All of the time / First generation Mostly Spanish / Most Hispanic / Most of the time / Second generation Both equally / Half Hispanic / Half of the time / Third generation Mostly English / Few Hispanic / Sometimes / Fourth generation English only / None Hispanic / Never / Fifth generation

What language do you speak? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Mostly Spanish, 3 = Both equally, 4 = Mostly English, 5 = English only)

What language do you prefer to speak? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Mostly Spanish, 3 = Both equally, 4 = Mostly English, 5 = English only)

What language do you use with your spouse? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you use with your children? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you use with your parents? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you use with your co-workers? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you use with your friends? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you watch TV in? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you listen to the radio in? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you think in? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you read better? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you use when reading? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What language do you write better? (1 = Spanish only, 2 = Spanish better, 3 = Both equally, 4 = English better, 5 = English only)

What is the ethnic background of the people in your neighborhood? (1 = All Hispanic, 2 = Most Hispanic, 3 = Half Hispanic, 4 = Few Hispanic, 5 = None Hispanic)

What is the ethnic background of your co-workers? (1 = All Hispanic, 2 = Most Hispanic, 3 = Half Hispanic, 4 = Few Hispanic, 5 = None Hispanic)

What is the ethnic background of your close friends? (1 = All Hispanic, 2 = Most Hispanic, 3 = Half Hispanic, 4 = Few Hispanic, 5 = None Hispanic)

What proportion of time do you spend eating Hispanic foods? (1 = All of the time, 2 = Most of the time, 3 = Half of the time, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Never)

What proportion of time do you spend listening to Latin music? (1 = All of the time, 2 = Most of the time, 3 = Half of the time, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Never)

What proportion of time do you spend celebrating Hispanic traditions? (1 = All of the time, 2 = Most of the time, 3 = Half of the time, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Never)

What is the ethnic background of the people in your leisure time social environment? (1 = All Hispanic, 2 = Most Hispanic, 3 = Half Hispanic, 4 = Few Hispanic, 5 = None Hispanic)

What is your ethnic background? (1 = Mexican, 2 = Chicano, 3 = Mexican American, 4 = Latin American/other Hispanic American, 5 = Anglo American or other)

What is your mother’s ethnic background? (1 = Mexican, 2 = Chicano, 3 = Mexican American, 4 = Latin American/other Hispanic American, 5 = Anglo American or other)

What is your father’s ethnic background? (1 = Mexican, 2 = Chicano, 3 = Mexican American, 4 = Latin American/other Hispanic American, 5 = Anglo American or other)

In what country did you spend your childhood? (2 = Other/Hispanic country, 4 = United States)

What proportion of your life have you lived in the United States versus a Hispanic country? (2 = Mostly Hispanic/partly US, 3 = Equal, 4 = Mostly US/partly Hispanic, 5 = United States only)

Answer all questions to submit

Your Results

Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Acculturation Scale – LAECA