Use of self-referencing memory strategies change over time with acculturation

Although cross-cultural research identifies cognitive differences when comparing across individuals, few studies have examined how acculturation, or cultural change over time within individuals, affects cognition. To address this gap, we investigated how acculturation and change in self-construal for Chinese students in the US impacts the self-reference effect in memory over two timepoints. Participants completed a self-referencing memory task and a set of questionnaires assessing acculturation orientation and self-construal over two time points, on average 16 months apart. As individuals' orientation towards host culture and independence increased over the two time points, they exhibited a larger self-reference effect (self vs. other) in memory and a smaller other-reference (other vs. control) effect. These patterns indicated that as Chinese students became more acculturated to US culture, they exhibited more US-like patterns of behavior in memory. In contrast, between-participant variability in acculturation orientation and independence were not related to self- or other-referencing. •This is a novel study of acculturation and cognition, demonstrating effects on memory.•Acculturative change can impact memory strategy benefits in as little as 16 months.•Increased orientation to US host culture is associated with greater self-referencing.•Increased independence is associated with reduced other-referencing.•Memory strategies are malleable and sensitive to acculturation with time.•Acculturation is a dynamic process that leads to cognitive change, including memory.