Abstract
Heritage language (HL) proficiency has been found to have various benefits in bilingual households. However, a gap in research regarding the adult population exists. This research study investigated the impact of college students' HL proficiency on their parent-child relationship, perceived parental academic support, and ethnic identity. Data from 196 bilingual college students was analyzed to test three research hypotheses. The first hypothesis was those who have proficient skills in their HL will express a better-quality relationship with their parents, particularly in the domains of closeness and attachment. The second was students who report proficient HL skills will also report their parents being more involved in their academics. The third was participants with higher HL skills will have a stronger connection to their ethnic identity, specifically in belongingness with their culture. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis results indicated support for all hypotheses, suggesting that HL proficiency impacts all constructs tested.