The State of Acculturation and Identity Distress among Stranded Adolescent Biharis in Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract The Urdu-speaking Bihari people in Bangladesh, living in dilapidated camps with compromised rights and opportunities, constitute one of the most vulnerable diasporas in the South Asian region. These camps have existed for generations and consequently house many adolescents. Yet studies on the acculturation and identity distress of adolescent Biharis are nonexistent. This paper addresses this significant topic directly. Based on a survey using the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS-ZABB) and the Identity Distress Survey (IDS) frameworks, this study found that Bihari adolescent youths preferred to associate themselves more with the host identity and culture than with their own. They showed high language competence in their host and origin languages, but only high cultural competence in their host culture. Their identity distress was found to be low across identity, social relationships, religion and group loyalties, but was moderate and evenly distributed around long-term goals and career plans. The recommendations of the study support the integration of the Bihari population into Bangladesh’s population framework, since this diaspora appears to be qualified for this transition.