Language Identity and Sense of Belonging Among 1.5 Generation Asian and Asian American Immigrant Young Adults in the United States

Authors

• Chulwoo Park, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
• Janet Y. Bang, Department of Child and Adolescent Development, San José State University, San Jose, California, USA.
• Mark Edberg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-19-2026

Journal

Asian American journal of psychology

DOI

10.1037/aap0000414

Keywords

1.5 generation; Asian American; Language identity; Sense of belonging; Young adult

Abstract

Language identity has been defined in the research as an individual's connection to their sense of self through using language with others. Understanding language identity construction in a new environment among Asian immigrants, a racial/ethnic minority population, is important for addressing health disparities and inequities. This study examined how language identity could be defined by 1.5 generation Asian and Asian American immigrant young adults, and how using multiple languages influenced their sense of belonging in the United States. Additionally, we investigated how languages influenced the way they interact with others and see themselves, and what language use contexts and characteristics helped them to establish their language identity. Participants were defined as those who arrived in the United States from Asia with their 1st generation parents when they were 5-17 years old, have lived for at least 12 months, and are now aged 18-29. We conducted 8 focus group discussions with 24 participants (2-4 in each group) residing in the San Francisco Bay Area in California and analyzed verbatim transcriptions using Dedoose. We report on three themes identified in the analysis: 1) languages played a key role in forming personal and professional relationships that impacted identities; 2) language identity was distinct from language proficiency; and 3) multilingualism shaped their ethno-racial identity and sense of belonging. Future research will pursue one-on-one in-depth interviews and longitudinal studies to subsequently understand individualized experiences and expand the scope of the target population to provide generalizability to other 1.5 generation Asian and Asian American immigrants.

APA Citation

Park, Chulwoo; Bang, Janet Y.; and Edberg, Mark, "Language Identity and Sense of Belonging Among 1.5 Generation Asian and Asian American Immigrant Young Adults in the United States" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8857.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8857

Department

Prevention and Community Health