Remote acculturation experiences of Turkish emerging adults to U.S. culture: A focus group study

This study expands on remote acculturation research by exploring the presence, underlying dynamics, and implications of Americanization among Turkish emerging adults. Focus group interviews were conducted with 22 non-migrant university students in Turkey, aged 19–24. The data were analyzed thematically, using both deductive and inductive approaches. The analysis was structured around three thematic axes: (1) attitudes toward Americanization, (2) perceived cultural distance between Turkish and American societies, and (3) the implications of remote acculturation for cultural identity, interpersonal relationships, and family dynamics. The findings indicated that participants perceived the adoption of American culture as context-dependent, selectively embracing it in domains where it offered social or practical advantages. Turkish youth expressed complex and multifaceted attitudes toward American culture, characterized by a mixture of admiration, skepticism, and critique. These results highlight the multifaceted processes through which young adults negotiate cultural identity under global cultural influences. The study underscores the importance of understanding symbolic interpretations of Americanization in order to address potential intergenerational and intercultural tensions in rapidly globalizing societies.