Detailed Biography:

Research Interest: Nihira and his colleagues have been investigating the home environment of Asian-American families with mentally retarded children. The project is designed to (a) study the home environment of Asian-American families of children with developmental disabilities, with particular focus on the effects of acculturation; and (b) conduct a cross-cultural comparison of home environment between Asian American and European American families of children with developmental disabilities. Currently, Nihira and colleagues are examining the influence of cultural identity, filial beliefs, and traditional Asian values on immigration experience and acculturation of families of children with developmental disabilities. The study also addresses the issue of generational differences in the acculturation process.