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Acculturative Stress and Mental Health: Implications for Immigrant-Origin Youth
Abstract
“In this article, the authors provide an overview of the current global and US debates on immigration as a key developmental context for immigrant-origin youth. Relying on a conceptual framework that highlights both risk and protective factors, the authors provide evidence from their longitudinal study that empirically links acculturative stress to key mental health outcomes during adolescence. They conclude with a discussion of clinical implications of their work with an emphasis on what is needed to meet the growing mental health needs of immigrant youth.”
... Targeting intergenerational trauma is particularly critical for immigrant and refugee children and families, due to their complicated and collective nature of trauma. These challenges often include exposure to violence, forced displacements, family separations, and discrimination (Pears & Capaldi, 2001;Perreira & Ornelas, 2013;Sirin et al., 2019;Yehuda et al., 2001). When an individual experiences trauma, the resulting feeling of loss of control and fear can manifest as anger, interpersonal violence, and altered parenting practices, all of which may create a pathway to intergenerational transmission of trauma (Catani et al., 2008;Pears & Capaldi, 2001;Yehuda et al., 2001). ...
... Some immigrant and refugee families may resort to silence or avoidance due to the stigma associated with mental health, again contributing to the perpetuation of intergenerational trauma (Lin et al., 2009). Compounding these challenges, acculturative stress-from the challenges of adapting to new societal norms, language barriers, lack of social support, and mistrust in social institutions-can exacerbate family dependence and reinforce these cycles (Birman & Tran, 2008;Mollica et al., 1998;Perreira & Ornelas, 2013;Rivera et al., 2008;Sirin et al., 2019). Intergenerational conflicts may emerge as second-generation immigrant children tend to acculturate more rapidly than their parents, deepening cultural divides within the family (Abi-Hashem, 2011;Mohdzain, 2011;Weine et al., 2004). ...
... Second, increased awareness of mental health issues due to psychoeducation components may have led to higher symptom reporting among parents (Ballard et al., 2018). Additionally, parents' complex trauma experiences, including past traumas, acculturation challenges, and resettlement stressors, may have complicated and delayed their recovery process (Birman & Tran, 2008;Mollica et al., 1998;Perreira & Ornelas, 2013;Sirin et al., 2019). Although precise reasons for these findings remain unclear, they underscore the critical role of professionals to continuously assess parents' needs and tailor support throughout the course of interventions. ...
Immigrant and refugee families often experience significant trauma, which can be transmitted across generations. Nonetheless, little is known about interventions that mitigate intergenerational trauma within these populations. We conducted a scoping review to synthesize research evidence on family-based trauma interventions for immigrant and refugee children and their families, focusing on intergenerational trauma. Our search included peer-reviewed studies published globally from 1990 to 2024 that tested intervention effectiveness using pre- and post-intervention outcomes and involved both children and family members. Five studies met our inclusion criteria, comprising two parenting interventions, two multifamily group interventions, and one schoolbased intervention. All five interventions improved the children’s mental health, while mixed findings were shown with parent mental health. Only one study explicitly named intergenerational trauma as their intervention goal, revealing a significant gap in this area. Recommendations for future studies are provided to guide practice and research in this critical area.
... First-and second-generation immigrant families commonly experience barriers to integrating into the host country pre-, during-, and post-immigration (Sirin et al., 2019;Thomson et al., 2015). Theories of social integration indicate that social relationships and connections with others impact individual well-being. ...
... The literature has shown that immigrant families commonly experience barriers to integrating into the host country pre-, during-, and post-immigration (Sirin et al., 2019;Thomson et al., 2015). However, the mental health of immigrant parents and contributing factors are often overlooked (Kaltman et al., 2010). ...
... Another noteworthy finding was how MSPSS -Friends negatively correlated with GHQ -Total and GHQ -Anxiety/Depression, which suggests that less perceived support from friends is linked to worse mental health and more anxiety and depression symptoms. The findings once again confirm the importance of social support outside of the family for immigrants as well as the obstacles in the way of developing new friendships in the host country (Sirin et al., 2019;Thomson et al., 2015). Lastly, it is not surprising that MSPSS -Total negatively correlated with GHQ -Anxiety/ Depression, which means the better-perceived support for immigrant parents with young children, the less chance they would experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. ...
Social integration is a unique and unavoidable process that immigrant populations must work through in the host country. Specifically, social support plays an important role in promoting mental wellness for immigrant parents with young children. The objective of this study was to investigate how social support impacts the mental health of urban immigrant parents. This cross-sectional study recruited 54 bilingual immigrant parents using community-based sampling in a highly urban city in the North Atlantic Region of the U.S. Participants completed surveys that included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Descriptive statistics, T-tests, and correlational analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 28. Two major findings include: (a) an urgent need to attend to the mental health of immigrant communities; and (b) the importance of social support, specifically support from outside of family, in immigrants’ wellness. We provided suggestions for collaboration and investigations on best practices to support this population.
... Within the subset of Black crossover youth are those who identify as immigrants or refugees. Reports note that one in five children in the United States is of immigrant origin (Casey Foundation, 2022b;Sirin et al., 2019;Sugarman, 2023). The United States has received over 32 million refugees since the Refugee Act of 1980 (Monin et al., 2021;Office of Migration Statistics, 2022), including 60,014 resettled in 2023 (UNCHR, 2023). ...
... The few previous studies examine Latinx IRY involved with the JJS (Cavanagh & Cauffman, 2015), but research for dually involved Black IRY is even more limited. Black IRY populations, whose immigrant status and other factors associated with acculturation and integration into the host country are predisposed to increased levels of internalizing or externalizing mental health symptoms, and academic challenges (Kumi-Yeboah et al., 2020;Sirin et al., 2019), and more negative outcomes contributed to their acculturation stressors. Black crossover youth identifying as immigrants and refugees has additional intersectionality. ...
... Refugees report a more significant number of diverse traumatic experiences resulting from high levels of forced displacement, community violence, and traumatic loss as compared to immigrant and U.S.-born youth (Betancourt et al., 2017a). Both immigrant and refugee youth experienced additional stressors related to resettlement and acculturation, which have implications for mental health (Sirin et al., 2019). Given the increased likelihood of Black crossover IRY to experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other potentially traumatic events, it is vital to consider the implications of adversity on dual-system involvement. ...
... While migration is driven by a combination of factors that can include political turmoil and conflict (Castelli, 2018), other influencing factors attracting people to their country of destination, often includes the search for better opportunities, and the perceived attractiveness of the destination country (Choy et al., 2021). Migration however does often come with consequences, and the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of migrant populations has been well documented (Nakash et al., 2012;Stillman et al., 2009: Virupaksha et al., 2014, with some forms of stress noted to be endemic in the acculturation process, as the result of communication problems, differences in cultural values, and discrimination (Sirin et al., 2019). Similarly, the choice to study overseas in Western countries presents many challenges for international students including the experience of acculturative stress and difficulties with adjustment to the environment of the host country (Sirin et al., 2019). ...
... Migration however does often come with consequences, and the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of migrant populations has been well documented (Nakash et al., 2012;Stillman et al., 2009: Virupaksha et al., 2014, with some forms of stress noted to be endemic in the acculturation process, as the result of communication problems, differences in cultural values, and discrimination (Sirin et al., 2019). Similarly, the choice to study overseas in Western countries presents many challenges for international students including the experience of acculturative stress and difficulties with adjustment to the environment of the host country (Sirin et al., 2019). While it is recognised that workload and assessment requirements are common stressors for students, for many international students, this is coupled with financial strain, language difficulties, minority group status (Khawaja & Stallman, 2011), culture shock, loneliness, homesickness, and prejudice (Arkoudis et al., 2019, Diehl et al., 2018. ...
... While it is recognised that workload and assessment requirements are common stressors for students, for many international students, this is coupled with financial strain, language difficulties, minority group status (Khawaja & Stallman, 2011), culture shock, loneliness, homesickness, and prejudice (Arkoudis et al., 2019, Diehl et al., 2018. In addition, for many international students, making a transition from cultures that promote social cohesion and close relationships, to countries with individualistic social structures, (Dickins & Thomas, 2016;Moore et al., 2013), can potentially impact the overall experience of international students (Khawaja & Stallman, 2011;Sirin et al., 2019). ...
Background:
Concerns have been raised that international students are at high risk of poor mental health and wellbeing.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the mental health and wellbeing of international students in Australia.
Methods:
A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Complete using EBSCOhost interface for articles published from 2000. A pre-determined set of eligibility criteria was used to screen articles and eligible articles were quality appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Due to considerable heterogeneity, the data was narratively analysed, considering the statistical significance and the text narratives. Nineteen studies (N = 19) met the inclusion criteria.
Results:
Mental health issues experienced by international students included anxiety (2.4-43%, N = 5), depression (3.6-38.3%, N = 6), psychological stress/distress (31.6-54%, N = 9) and gambling problems (3.3-50.7%, N = 3). Factors affecting student wellbeing included loneliness/isolation (60-65%, N = 4), work/financial difficulties (15.4-95%, N = 4) and discrimination/safety concerns (9-50%, N = 3). Other factors affecting students included cross-cultural transition experiences, language difficulties, social interaction, university belonging, technology difficulties, self-harm, use of counselling services and mental health literacy.
Conclusion:
International students in Australia experience various issues affecting their mental health and wellbeing. More effort needs to be made to better support students.
... The variability in current research findings about the mental health of young adult children of immigrants is evolving [29]. There are studies that conclude that acculturative stress is higher in first generation immigrants [22,41,42]. Other studies conclude that second generation immigrants have greater amounts of cultural stress [27,36]. ...
... This understanding and appreciation generated resiliency to endure the reality of their upbringing. Young adults in immigrant families experience the typical developmental challenges of growing up that their nonimmigrant peers do, but they also have to negotiate multiple cultural demands from their home and host cultures [42]. The struggle of immigrant groups having to acculturate to the new host culture is not unique to Haitians. ...
Second-generation Haitian American emerging adults function within three cultures; the American culture, Black American culture, and the Haitian culture. Balancing and living within multiple cultures while trying to grow in autonomy and adulthood can affect the mental health of emerging adults. Gaining independence while finding identity coupled with cultural expectations can contribute to increasing stress levels. The aim of this phenomenological inquiry is to explore the lived experience of second generation Haitian American emerging adults while focusing on mental health. This descriptive phenomenological inquiry explored the mental health effects of acculturative stress in emerging adults who identified as second-generation Haitian Americans. The population sample consisted of 30 participants ages 19–29 years, with a mean of (Mage = 25.97, SD = 2.95). Data was collected through semi-structured one-on-one interviews, which were guided by fifteen open ended questions. Thematic analysis approach was applied to the qualitative data. Saturation was reached after 23 participant interviews and 7 additional interviews after saturation to confirm result findings. Resulting themes revealed that Haitian parents and culture were strict, a dual identity, and lack of awareness/support for mental health in the culture were stressors. Themes of admiration for the Haitian culture and resiliency serve as possibilities as to why participants pursued higher education. The triple minority status of the heritage culture has contributed to increased stress levels resulting in the expression of anxiety, depression and self-critical thoughts such as feelings of imposter syndrome.
... Furthermore, interactions between these two systems may play a role in exacerbating or buffering the effects of bias-based bullying experiences (Brenick & Halgunseth, 2017;Huang et al., 2013). Family cohesion is a documented source of support for immigrant youth (Sirin, Sin, Clingain, & Rogers-Sirin, 2019), and bias-based bullying frequently occurs in schools (Hong et al., 2014;Neblett et al., 2012). Thus, the interaction between family and school contexts is essential for understanding bias-based bullying experiences of immigrant youth. ...
... Hence, immigrant children may be more likely targets for bullying in that they experience intersectional minority identities (immigrant and ethnic minority; Cross et al., 2020). Furthermore, it is important to note that immigrant children experience other forms of acculturative stress that may make them particularly vulnerable to the negative impact of bullying such as needing to acquire a new language, adapting to changing cultural norms and behaviors, or encountering barriers due to documentation status (Sirin et al., 2019). ...
This study explores the protective effects of family cohesion and school belongingness against the negative consequences of bullying. 481 immigrant and nonimmigrant US middle‐school students (Mage = 13.28(0.87), 49% female; 36% ethnic minority) self‐reported their experiences being bullied, school belongingness, family cohesion, and socioemotional well‐being measured as externalizing, internalizing, and prosocial behaviors. First‐ or second‐generation immigrant youth (n = 72) came from 30 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Family cohesion served as a protective factor for both immigrant and nonimmigrant youth, but for different outcomes of bullying experiences. For immigrant youth who experienced more bullying, having a more cohesive family was associated with decreased levels of internalizing problems. Additionally, stronger school belongingness and especially family cohesion related to more prosocial behaviors among more frequently bullied immigrant youth. Nonimmigrant youth who experienced bullying, however, reported fewer externalizing problems when they had stronger family cohesion and especially school belongingness. The findings highlight the importance of considering the interacting systems in which immigrant youth are embedded and suggest that family cohesion as a protective factor may work differently for immigrant than for nonimmigrant youth experiencing bias‐based bullying.
... Immigrants are likely to experience psychological distress, called "acculturative stress", during the process of cultural adaptation [17]. Although there are different coping styles and resiliencies to acculturative stress among immigrant groups [12], immigrants usually feel strong distress during the rst ve years after immigration [14,18,19]. Previous studies have reported the vulnerability of immigrants and refugees to mental illhealth [10,[14][15][16]. ...
... Whereas a meta-analysis did not show a signi cant increase in mood disorders associated with immigration [22], immigrants who had been diagnosed as having depression were more likely to experience suicidal ideation [23]. Moreover, recent studies have shown that children and adolescents in immigrant families experience severe acculturative stress, which is associated with poor trajectories in mental health such as alcohol and substance use, eating disorders, and emotional and psychological problems [18,24]. ...
Background:
International immigration to Japan, where homogeneous ethnicity is a population characteristic, has been growing. Although immigration is recognised as a risk factor for multiple mental-health related issues, there are few regional reports on foreign nationals accessing the psychiatric services in Japan. We aimed to reveal their current status and provide information to develop an optimal service system.
Methods:
A multicentre retrospective document review research was conducted. The subjects were foreign nationals who resided in Japan and presented at the psychiatry departments in three core regional hospitals in the Keihin region, which faces Tokyo Bay and is well known to include the largest traditional industrial zone in Japan, over a period of three years. We investigated the patients’ demographic and clinical information including country/region of origin, spoken language, use of a medical interpreter, pathway to hospitals and outcome.
Results:
The percentage of foreign patients among all patients (1.4%) was quite low. Their age distribution (45.8 years on average) was dissociated from the age distribution of foreign nationals who resided in Japan. Regarding the country/region of origin, China (35.1%) was the most common country, followed by the Philippines, Korea and Brazil. Several subjects (22.9%) could not speak Japanese; therefore, interpretation was required by family members/friends (17.1%) or a professional interpreter (5.4%). Neurotic and stress-related disorders were the most common diagnosis (24.4%). The proportion of psychoactive substance use was higher than that for Japanese national data as immigrants are known to be at risk for it.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that foreign nationals who reside in Japan are less likely to contact appropriate services for mental illness, especially young people at relatively high risk of mental illness do not access services. Furthermore, lack of medical interpreters may impede the mental health conditions of foreign nationals. The development of a community-based integrated care system accessible to foreign nationals seems to be indispensable.
... Immigrants are likely to experience psychological distress, called "acculturative stress", during the process of cultural adaptation [17]. Although there are different coping styles and resiliencies to acculturative stress among immigrant groups [12], immigrants usually feel strong distress during the first 5 years after immigration [14,18,19]. Previous studies have reported the vulnerability of immigrants and refugees to mental ill-health [10,[14][15][16]. ...
... Whereas a meta-analysis did not show a significant increase in mood disorders associated with immigration [22], immigrants who had been diagnosed as having depression were more likely to experience suicidal ideation [23]. Moreover, recent studies have shown that children and adolescents in immigrant families experience severe acculturative stress, which is associated with poor trajectories in mental health such as alcohol and substance use, eating disorders, and emotional and psychological problems [18,24]. ...
Background
International immigration to Japan, where homogeneous ethnicity is a population characteristic, has been growing. Although immigration is recognised as a risk factor for multiple mental-health related issues, there are few regional reports on foreign nationals accessing the psychiatric services in Japan. We aimed to reveal their current status and provide information to develop an optimal service system.
Methods
A multicentre retrospective document review research was conducted. The subjects were foreign nationals who resided in Japan and presented at the psychiatry departments in three core regional hospitals in the Keihin region, which faces Tokyo Bay and is well known to include the largest traditional industrial zone in Japan, over a period of 3 years. We investigated the patients’ demographic and clinical information including country/region of origin, spoken language, use of a medical interpreter, pathway to hospitals and outcome.
Results
The percentage of foreign patients among all patients (1.4%) was quite low. Their age distribution (45.8 years on average) was dissociated from the age distribution of foreign nationals who resided in Japan. Regarding the country/region of origin, China (35.1%) was the most common country, followed by the Philippines, Korea and Brazil. Several subjects (22.9%) could not speak Japanese; therefore, interpretation was required by family members/friends (17.1%) or a professional interpreter (5.4%). Neurotic and stress-related disorders were the most common diagnosis (24.4%). The proportion of psychoactive substance use was higher than that for Japanese national data as immigrants are known to be at risk for it.
Conclusions
The results suggest that foreign nationals who reside in Japan are less likely to contact appropriate services for mental illness, especially young people at relatively high risk of mental illness do not access services. Furthermore, lack of medical interpreters may impede the mental health conditions of foreign nationals. The development of a community-based integrated care system accessible to foreign nationals seems to be indispensable.
... Immigrants are likely to experience psychological distress, called "acculturative stress", during the process of cultural adaptation [17]. Although there are different coping styles and resiliencies to acculturative stress among immigrant groups [12], immigrants usually feel strong distress during the rst ve years after immigration [14,18,19]. Previous studies have reported the vulnerability of immigrants and refugees to mental health [10,[14][15][16]. ...
... Whereas a metaanalysis did not show a signi cant increase in mood disorders associated with immigration [22], immigrants who had been diagnosed as having depression were more likely to experience suicidal ideation [23]. Moreover, recent studies have shown that children and adolescents in immigrant families experience severe acculturative stress, which is associated with poor trajectories in mental health such as alcohol and substance use, eating disorders, and emotional and psychological problems [18,24]. ...
Background: International immigration to Japan, where homogeneous ethnicity is a population characteristic, has been growing. Although immigration is recognized as a risk factor for multiple mental-health related issues, there are few regional reports on foreign nationals accessing the psychiatric services in Japan. We aimed to reveal their current status and provide information to develop an optimal service system.
Methods: A multicenter retrospective chart review research was conducted. The subjects were foreign residents who presented at the psychiatry departments in three core regional hospitals in the Keihin region, which faces Tokyo Bay and is well known to include the largest traditional industrial zone in Japan, over a period of three years. We investigated the patients’ demographic and clinical information including country/region of origin, spoken language, use of a medical interpreter, pathway to hospitals, and outcome.
Results: The percentage of foreign patients among all patients (1.4%) was quite low. Their age distribution (45.8 years on average) was dissociated from the age distribution of foreign residents in Japan Regarding the country/region of origin, China (35.1%) was the most common country, followed by the Philippines, Korea, and Brazil. Several subjects (22.9%) could not speak Japanese; therefore, interpretation was required by family members/friends (17.1%) or a professional interpreter (5.4%). Neurotic and stress-related disorders were the most common diagnosis (24.4%). The proportion of psychoactive substance use was higher than that for Japanese national data as immigrants are known to be at risk for it.
Conclusions: The results suggest that foreign residents in Japan are less likely to contact appropriate services for mental illness, especially young people at relatively high risk of mental illness do not access services. Furthermore, lack of medical interpreters may impede the mental health conditions of foreign residents. The development of a community-based integrated care system accessible to foreign residents seems to be indispensable.
... Immigrants are likely to experience psychological distress, called "acculturative stress", during the process of cultural adaptation [17]. Although there are different coping styles and resiliencies to acculturative stress among immigrant groups [12], immigrants usually feel strong distress during the rst ve years after immigration [14,18,19]. Previous studies have reported the vulnerability of immigrants and refugees to mental health [16]. ...
... Whereas a meta-analysis did not show a signi cant increase in mood disorders associated with immigration [22], immigrants who had been diagnosed as having depression were more likely to experience suicidal ideation [23]. Moreover, recent studies have shown that children and adolescents in immigrant families experience severe acculturative stress, which is associated with poor trajectories in mental health such as alcohol and substance use, eating disorders, and emotional and psychological problems [18,24]. ...
Background: International immigration to Japan, where homogeneous ethnicity is a population characteristic, has been growing. Although immigration is recognized as a risk factor for multiple mental-health related issues, there are few regional reports on foreign residents who visit a hospital for mental health problems in Japan. We aimed to examine such patients’ characteristics.
Methods: A multicenter retrospective study using medical records was conducted. The subjects were foreign patients who presented at the psychiatry departments in three core regional hospitals in the Keihin region, which faces Tokyo Bay and is well known to include the largest traditional industrial zone in Japan, over a period of three years. We investigated the patients’ demographic and clinical information including country/region of origin, spoken language, use of a medical interpreter, pathway to hospitals, and outcome.
Results: The percentage of foreign individuals among all patients was 1.4% (205/14511). The mean age of the foreign patients was 45.8 years, and the sex ratio was 1:1.9 (men: women). Regarding the country/region of origin, China (35.1%) was the most common country, followed by the Philippines (18.5%), Korea (16.1%), and Brazil (4.9%). Several subjects (22.9%) could not speak Japanese; therefore, interpretation was required by family members/friends (17.1%) or a professional interpreter (5.4%). Neurotic disorder (ICD-10 code: F4) was the most common diagnosis (24.4%).
Conclusions: The percentage of foreign patients seeking psychiatric treatment (1.4%) was relatively low, compared with the percentage of foreign residents living in the Keihin region (4.4%). The age distribution of foreign residents who visited psychiatric department was dissociated from the age distribution of foreign residents in Japan. This suggests that young foreign residents with a relatively high risk for mental illness are not accessing appropriate services. The development of a community-based integrated care system accessible to foreign residents seems to be indispensable.
... The aspects of acculturative stress that are salient to college students may relate to language proficiency, unfamiliarity with prevailing cultural practices, cultural self-consciousness, the experience of conflicting value systems, and experiences of discrimination (e.g., [7][8][9]). In previous research, acculturative stress has repeatedly been found to be associated with mental-health problems such as anxiety and depression, feelings of alienation, identity confusion, and heightened levels of psychosomatic symptoms [2,[10][11][12]. Among international college students and college students from cultural-ethnic minorities, acculturative stress has been associated with a number of psychological challenges, including depression [13,14]. ...
... Our findings revealed that acculturative stress is positively related to depressive symptoms. This finding supports previous research that has found acculturative stress to be associated with mental-health problems, including anxiety and depression [2,[10][11][12]. Among college students (international students and students from a cultural-ethnic minority), acculturative stress has been associated with a number of psychological challenges, including depression [13,14]. ...
Background:
In Israeli colleges and universities, many Arab students experience acculturative stress. Such stress arises from the need to learn new cultural rules, manage the overarching conflict inherent in maintaining elements of their culture of origin (i.e., Arab culture) while incorporating elements of the host culture (i.e., Jewish academic culture), and deal with experiences of prejudice and discrimination present in the host culture.
Methods:
This study investigated the association between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms among 170 Arab undergraduates from northern and central Israel. It also explored the roles of sense of coherence and coping strategies in the relationship between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms. Participants completed questionnaires on acculturative stress, depressive symptoms, sense of coherence, coping strategies, and demographics.
Results:
The findings reveal gender differences in the use of different coping strategies and in levels of depressive symptoms. However, academic-year differences were found only in levels of sense of coherence and depressive symptoms. Specifically, female students expressed higher levels of both active and avoidant coping. Moreover, female students and those in their first and second years of university studies reported higher levels of depressive symptoms. Among the male students, acculturative stress was related to depressive symptoms indirectly via sense of coherence and active coping. In contrast, among the female students, acculturative stress was related to depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly via sense of coherence and avoidant coping. Among first- and second-year students, acculturative stress was related to depressive symptoms indirectly via sense of coherence and avoidant coping. However, among third- and fourth-year students, acculturative stress was related to depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly via sense of coherence.
Conclusions:
This article underscores the significance of gender and academic-year differences in pathways involving acculturative stress.
... Immigrants are likely to experience psychological distress, called "acculturative stress", during the process of cultural adaptation [17]. Although there are different coping styles and resiliencies to acculturative stress among immigrant groups [12], immigrants usually feel strong distress during the rst ve years after immigration [14,18,19]. Previous studies have reported the vulnerability of immigrants and refugees to mental health [16]. ...
... Whereas a meta-analysis did not show a signi cant increase in mood disorders associated with immigration [22], immigrants who suffered depression were more likely to experience suicidal ideation [23]. Moreover, recent studies have shown that children and adolescents in immigrant families experience severe acculturative stress, which is associated with poor trajectories in mental health such as alcohol and substance use, eating disorders, and emotional and psychological problems [18,24]. ...
Background
International immigration to Japan, where homogeneous ethnicity is a population characteristic, has been growing. Although immigration is recognized as a risk factor for multiple mental-health related issues, there are few regional reports on foreign residents who visit a hospital for mental health problems in Japan. We aimed to examine such patients’ characteristics.
Methods
A multicenter retrospective study using medical records was conducted. The subjects were foreign patients who presented at the psychiatry departments in three core regional hospitals in the Keihin region, which faces Tokyo Bay and is well known to include the largest traditional industrial zone in Japan, over a period of three years. We investigated the patients’ demographic and clinical information including nationality/region, spoken language, use of a medical interpreter, pathway to hospitals, and outcome.
Results
The percentage of foreign individuals among all patients was 1.4% (205/14511). The mean age of the foreign patients was 45.8 years, and the sex ratio was 1:1.9 (men: women). China (35.1%) was the most common nationality, followed by the Philippines (18.5%), Korea (16.1%), and Brazil (4.9%). About one-fourth of the subjects could not speak Japanese; therefore, interpretation was required by family members/friends (17.1%) or a professional interpreter (5.4%). Neurotic disorder (ICD code: F4) was the most common diagnosis (24.4%).
Conclusions
The percentage of foreign patients seeking psychiatric treatment (1.4%) was relatively low, compared with the percentage of foreign residents living in the Keihin region (4.4%). The age distribution of foreign residents who visited psychiatric department was dissociated from the age distribution of foreign residents in Japan. This suggests that young foreign residents with a relatively high risk for mental illness are not accessing appropriate services. The development of a community-based integrated care system accessible to foreign residents seems to be indispensable.
... From a Western, Judeo-Christian, perspective this normalization of self-sacrifice can be described as a sin against God, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11: "'For only I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Hendrickson Publishers, 2004;Ginzburg, 2023). Acculturative stress, as an individual rectifies divergent cultural norms, has been linked to numerous physical and emotional health concerns (Ahn et al., 2020;Cheung et al., 2020;Simmons & Limbers, 2018;Sirin et al., 2019), and is subsequently repeated when the same individual transitions away from active military service and back to an individualistic community. A research approach that does not consider this two-step acculturation process, therefore, risks the mismodeling of a Veteran experience. ...
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... Despite the healthy immigrant effect, most newcomers remain at risk for poor mental health outcomes [259,260]. Youth even more so [261][262][263][264][265]. A host of established risk factors including but not limited to pre-migration experiences [256], postmigration family and school environment, discrimination, and barriers to health care, will need to be considered [266][267][268][269]. School settings as points of identification, assessment, and delivery of mental health services for these youth need to be included [270]. ...
In 2011, the New Brunswick government released the New Brunswick Mental Health Action Plan 2011–2018 (Action Plan). Following the release of the Action Plan in 2011, two progress reports were released in 2013 and 2015, highlighting the implementation status of the Action Plan. While vague in their language, these reports indicated considerable progress in implementing the Action Plan, as various initiatives were undertaken to raise awareness and provide additional resources to facilitate early prevention and intervention in children and youth. However, whether these initiatives have yielded measurable improvements in population-level mental health outcomes in children and youth remains unclear. The current study explored the impact of the Action Plan by visualizing the trend in psychosocial outcomes and service utilization of vulnerable populations in New Brunswick before and after the implementation of the Action Plan using multiple datasets from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Survey-weighted ordinary least square regression analyses were performed to investigate measurable improvements in available mental health outcomes. The result revealed a declining trend in the mental wellness of vulnerable youth despite them consistently reporting higher frequencies of mental health service use. This study highlights the need for a concerted effort in providing effective mental health services to New Brunswick youth and, more broadly, Canadian youth, as well as ensuring rigorous routine outcome monitoring and evaluation plans are consistently implemented for future mental health strategies at the time of their initiation.
... On the other hand, family cohesion is protective against bullying, discrimination, and acculturation stress through emotional support and structure provided by the parents (Bowes et al., 2010;Sirin et al., 2019). Effective family functioning has also evidenced positive impacts on immigrant youth self-efficacy in social situations, emotional regulation, and problem-solving social conflicts and stressors (Leidy et al., 2010). ...
... Persistent homesickness and loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, and a decreased ability to cope with academic and social challenges. (Sirin et al., 2019) The climate of the host country can significantly affect international students' comfort and wellbeing. Students coming from tropical or temperate climates may struggle to adapt to extreme cold or heat, seasonal changes, and different weather patterns. ...
In the globalized landscape of higher education, the number of students seeking academic opportunities abroad has surged. This literature review investigates the cultural shock experienced by international students, examining its scale and impact globally and within Asia. The method used the PRISMA checklist and flowchart for selection and review of journals, consisting of three stages: identification from databases (n = 3,874,770), screening (n = 157), and inclusion (n = 10). Additionally, information was sought from books, dissertations, unpublished materials, and personal experiences as a teacher of international students. The review identified three themes regarding cultural shock. The first theme, Cultural Shock Syndromes, reveals that students generally experience homesickness, a desire to escape their new environment, and distress. The second theme, Aspects of Culture Shock Experienced by Students, includes language barriers, daily schedules, non-verbal communication, homesickness, loneliness, seasons and weather, and food. The third theme, Effects of Culture Shock on Students' Lives during their Study, focuses on academic performance, social integration, and overall well-being. The conclusion is that cultural shock significantly affects international students as they navigate new academic and social environments, encompassing challenges such as homesickness, social exclusion, identity confusion, and cultural dissonance. These factors collectively contribute to heightened stress and anxiety, negatively impacting students' academic performance and overall well-being. Understanding the specific complaints and challenges associated with cultural shock highlights the critical need for comprehensive support systems.
... From a Western, Judeo-Christian, perspective this normalization of self-sacrifice can be described as a sin against God, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11: "'For only I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Hendrickson Publishers, 2004). The acculturative stress, as an individual rectifies divergent cultural norms, has been linked to numerous physical and emotional health concerns (Ahn et al., 2020;Cheung et al., 2020;Simmons & Limbers, 2018;Sirin et al., 2019), and is subsequently repeated when the same individual transitions away from active military service and back to an individualistic community. A research approach that does not consider this two-step acculturation process, therefore, risks the mis-modeling of a Veteran experience. ...
... Acculturation is defined as 'the dual process of cultural and psychological change that takes place as a result of contact between two or more cultural groups and their individual members' (Berry, 2005, p. 698). Cultural conflicts experiencd during the process of acculturation can produce stress which may translate into negative consequences for minoritized children's well-being (Sirin et al., 2019;Suarez-Orozco et al., 2018). ...
... In particular, youth and families with multiple identities must develop a myriad of coping strategies to navigate stressors associated with their marginalized identities. For instance, immigrant youth often utilize coping strategies to deal with ethnic-racial discrimination and additional stressors associated with adapting to a new culture, such as learning a new language or customs (Sirin et al., 2013;Sirin et al., 2019). Processes of negotiating and navigating among social and cultural demands of two or more cultures by individuals (or cultural groups) represent "acculturation" Resilience and Coping in Development 15 (Berry, 2005;Suárez-Orozco et al., 2018), whereas "acculturative stress" generally refers to stress or distress experienced by individuals who are learning to navigate differences between their native and host cultures (Sirin et al., 2013). ...
Concepts of resilience and coping have a shared history rooted in efforts to understand how individuals adapt to challenging or stressful experiences. Yet, there are notable differences in these two traditions of research. This chapter examines conceptual similarities and divergences in research traditions on resilience and coping. We highlight the general neglect of culture and context in early research on both concepts and draw attention to recent efforts focused on understanding how coping and resilience processes operate in sociocultural context. Finally, we offer suggestions for aligning these two traditions of research to move toward a more comprehensive framework spanning levels of analysis and disciplines. Integrating these two traditions of research has the potential to advance understanding of how interconnected adaptive systems promote and protect human development and health, providing evidence to guide practice and policy in the face of complex multisystem challenges now confronting human life and development.
... Accordingly, acculturative stress refers to stressors that have their source in the processes of acculturation and behaviors associated with them; it has been defined as a reduction in health status (including psychological, somatic and social aspects) of individuals who are exposed to and undergoing acculturation (Berry et al., 1987;Berry & Sam, 1997). Acculturative stress can lower health status by causing anxiety, depression, psychosomatic symptoms, psychological disorders and sociocultural adjustment difficulties (Berry & Kim, 1988;Caplan, 2007;Lee & Holm, 2011;Maldonado et al., 2018;Miller De Rutté & Rubenstein, 2021;Oh et al., 2002;Perreira et al., 2018;Serafica et al., 2019;Sirin et al., 2019). Acculturation has also been shown to be a strong risk factor for greater psychosocial stress and increased use of drugs and alcohol among Indigenous people in Alaska (Wolsko et al., 2007), as well as for poorer self-rated health among Native groups in Alaska and Greenland (Eliassen et al., 2012). ...
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that ethnic and ethnolinguistic discrimination, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to being Indigenous as well as different aspects of acculturative stress, are associated with poorer health and higher levels of depression among the Nahua Indigenous communities.
Materials and methods:
Our quantitative survey was carried out in four different regions inhabited by the Nahua people in Mexico. Self-rated health and depression, the symptoms of PTSD, two facets of acculturative stress and ethnolinguistic discrimination were assessed by questionnaires. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression models.
Results:
The symptoms of PTSD and acculturative stress experienced in the workplace were significantly associated with a higher risk of poor self-rated health, adjusted for various socio-demographic characteristics. Acculturative stress, discouragement of language use, language avoidance and ethnolinguistic discrimination were related to a higher risk of depression and PTSD.
Discussion:
Our research implies that ethnic and linguistic discrimination, acculturative stress and the memory of harm linked to being Indigenous reflected in the symptoms of PTSD, are important predictors of poorer health and depression among Nahua groups in Mexico. These adverse effects could be significantly counteracted by effective dealing with stigmatization and discrimination against Indigenous people in Mexico and by replacing strong assimilation pressures with integrational approaches that respect ethnolinguistic diversity and reduce socioeconomic marginalization.
... In addition, BIPOC youth face more stressors than their White counterparts, including discrimination, barriers to healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, and increased risk of exposure to adverse environments (Jones & Neblett, 2017;Madubata et al., 2019;Rojas-Velasquez et al., 2020). Racial and ethnic identity-speci c stressors faced by some BIPOC youth, such as acculturative stress, anti-immigrant attitudes, and language barriers in Hispanic, Latinx, and Asian youth (Hatzenbuehler et al., 2017;Rojas-Velasquez et al., 2020;Sirin et al., 2019), may also place youth at risk for higher levels of psychological distress and potential for NSSI. Acculturation gaps, immigration stresses, and minority-speci c fragmented family structure, such as changes in family structure due to migration, are correlated with NSSI in Latinx youth-particularly among low-income Latina women (Cervantes et al., 2014;Rojas-Velasquez et al., 2020). ...
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an important transdiagnostic behavior prevalent among youth and young adults. In addition, NSSI is a risk factor for suicidal behaviors. Research on NSSI among underserved Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and gender and sexual minority (GSM) youth is limited; however, NSSI is prevalent among these groups. In particular, prevalence rates of NSSI are greater among GSM youth and young adults when compared with their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Research indicates that specific risk factors for NSSI may exist among these groups, such as factors related to systemic minority stressors. In this chapter, we review the association between NSSI and suicide, as well as general risk factors for NSSI. Then, we review research on NSSI among BIPOC and GSM youth and young adults, including specific risk factors and correlates for these populations.
... Participants described the anxiety that results from attempting to integrate one's own culture with that of the dominant group. While not all immigrants experience acculturation stress, it has been associated with poor mental health, overeating, substance abuse, and other negative health outcomes (Alamilla et al., 2020;Simmons & Limbers, 2019;Sirin et al., 2019). Participants highlighted some of the challenges they experienced integrating their home culture with that of the majority culture, particularly in relation to the routine nature of the United States and the differences in climate between Latin America and Montana. ...
Introduction:
In 2020, 18.4% of Hispanics experienced mental illness, yet only about a third received treatment compared with nearly half of non-Hispanic Whites. In Montana, where only 11% of the mental health needs are currently met, service utilization is low. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of the Hispanic immigrant population in a rural state on mental health and professional service utilization.
Methods:
Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured telephone interviews in Spanish. Audio recordings were transcribed, translated to English, and analyzed for themes.
Results:
We recruited a sample of 14 participants from Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela ranging in age from 33 to 59. We identified five themes: definitions of mental health, maintaining mental health, familismo/socialization, stigma, and acculturation stress.
Discussion:
Novel findings point to the need for Spanish-language services focused on reducing stigma around mental illness and incorporating the importance of social connections.
... A large body of research shows that stress threatens mental health (Dohrenwend and Dohrenwend, 1974), and reduces measures of subjective well-being, such as including life satisfaction (Ng et al., 2009). Acculturative stress can also negatively affect the mental health of adolescents (Sirin et al., 2013(Sirin et al., , 2019. In particular, if people in the mainstream society have negative prejudices regarding individuals' cultural origins, adolescents of multicultural background are likely to experience psychological difficulties or mental health problems (Goforth et al., 2016). ...
This study identified the relationship between hardiness and life satisfaction or expectation of multicultural Korean children, and examined the mediating models of acculturative stress moderated by resilience on hardiness and life satisfaction or life expectation. The participants in the study were 201 male and female children from Korean multicultural families. PROCESS Macro 3.5 Model 14 was used for the analysis of the moderated mediating effects. The results revealed that hardiness and resilience were positively correlated with life satisfaction and life expectation, whereas acculturative stress was negatively correlated with life satisfaction and life expectation of multicultural children. In a moderated mediating model for life satisfaction, there was no interaction effect of acculturative stress and resilience, but a conditionally indirect effect of acculturative stress was only significant in groups with low resilience. In a moderated mediating model for life expectation, there was a significant interaction effect of acculturative stress and resilience, and a conditionally indirect effect of acculturative stress was only significant in groups with low resilience and with very high resilience. These findings suggest that only when multicultural children have low resilience, the mediating effect of acculturative stress is significant in relations of hardiness and life satisfaction, as well as hardiness and life expectation. In particular, resilience moderates the influence of acculturative stress on life expectations.
... This intergenerational cultural conflict can be defined as relationship strain fomented as a result of differences in the amount of acculturation/enculturation undertaken by each familial party. Acculturative stress through intergenerational cultural conflict has been linked to poorer mental health outcomes, most notably anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, social withdrawal, and disobedience (Patel et al., 2016;Sirin et al., 2013;Sirin et al., 2019). Acculturative stress has also been linked to behavior problems (e.g., aggression and delinquency) indirectly though maladaptation to the youth's social environment (e.g., school; Cho, 2015). ...
The changing demographics of the US and widespread prevalence of immigrant youth suggests mental health trainees, clinicians, and researchers are increasingly more likely to interact with, treat, and study individuals from this population. Against this background, this article synthesizes current research for working with immigrant youth, with a particular focus on mental health and treatment considerations. First, we cover mental health considerations related to trauma history, acculturation and enculturation, and family separation. Next, we examine practical considerations specific to immigrant youth. Then we cover therapy and assessment considerations, including language dominance, cultural loading of tests and evaluative procedures, and gaps in educational history. Finally, we conclude with directions for future research.
... Evidence demonstrates that immigration stress can have an indirect effect on externalizing symptoms in children by way of caregivers' mental health symptoms as well . Overall, the accumulation of stress related to immigration can diminish the well-being and mental health of Latinx immigrants (George et al. 2015, Sirin et al. 2020. ...
Latinx immigrant families are greatly impacted by US policies and practices that limit immigrant families’ and children's rights. This article reviews the effects of such policies and the growing literature examining migration experiences. Latinx immigrant youth and parents may encounter multiple stressors across the stages of migration, including physical and structural violence, fear, poverty, and discrimination, which contribute to higher rates of mental health problems in this population. Despite significant trauma exposure, immigrants demonstrate incredible resilience within themselves, their families, and their communities and through movements and policies aimed at protecting their rights. Numerous culturally relevant universal, targeted, and intensive interventions were developed to magnify these protective factors to promote healing, advance immigration reform, and provide trauma-informed training and psychoeducation. Psychologistsplay a crucial role in implementing, evaluating, and advocating for accessible and collaborative approaches to care so that Latinx immigrant families have the resources to combat the harmful sequelae of immigration stress.
... We might expect the social and emotional competencies of immigrant and refugee children to vary, depending on one's experience with migration. Social and emotional distress may stem from the overall challenges of cultural adaptation (Berry, 2006;Sirin, Sin, Clingain, & Rogers-Sirin, 2019) to negative experiences with racism and discrimination (Suárez-Orozco & Suárez-Orozco, 2001). Furthermore, refugee children may have survived war and other traumatic circumstances, which can have devastating psychological consequences (Fazel, Wheeler, & Danesh, 2005). ...
Immigrant and refugee children and adolescents form a growing socially, culturally, and economically diverse group with the potential for wide-ranging adaptation outcomes. The goal of the study was to examine whether developmental competencies (social-emotional and academic) and sociodemographic disparities (e.g., SES and migration class) identified in kindergarten forecast the academic achievement trajectories of first- and second-generation immigrant and refugee children, from childhood to adolescence. The study used a retrospective, longitudinal, population-based design by making use of linked, individual-level administrative data from four sources (e.g., Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and Ministry of Education; IRCC, 2014 and BC MED, 2014) to identify a study cohort of immigrant and refugee children in British Columbia, Canada (N = 9,216). We utilized an analytical approach (group-based trajectory modeling) that allowed us to capture heterogeneity in the Grade 4 to Grade 10 academic (literacy and numeracy) trajectories. The resulting literacy and numeracy achievement trajectories were wide-ranging—some children thriving, some catching up, and some falling behind over time. Children’s developmental competencies assessed in kindergarten (literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional) were found to predict later trajectory group membership in significant and, at times, interacting ways. Trajectory group membership also differed by migration class (refugee/immigrant), generation status, socioeconomic status, English language learner status, and sex. The findings highlight the need for early, targeted school and community interventions that will help set all immigrant and refugee children onto long-term paths of positive adaptation.
... Acculturative Stress Acculturative stress stems from adaptation to the mainstream culture where families may experience communication barriers, lack of extended family support, societal discrimination, and change in social status [22,23]. This type of stress has been found to contribute to harsher or more inconsistent parenting and difficulty for families knowing how to advocate for their children's needs in school [24]. ...
Purpose of review:
Limited work has emphasized cultural responsiveness when working with families and children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from diverse backgrounds. We present a primer for psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals on the implementation of culturally responsive practices within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework when collaborating with schools.
Recent findings:
Individuals with ADHD demonstrate unique behavioral challenges that affect school and home functioning. As a framework to address the needs of all children with academic and behavioral issues, many public schools have adopted MTSS. Emerging findings on cultural adaptations of evidence-based interventions for ADHD within MTSS are promising. Through a comprehensive tiered approach, this review focuses on (1) initial behavior screening and prevention, (2) implementation of evidence-based interventions tailored to the child's development and family culture, and (3) collaboration between psychiatrists, psychologists, school personnel, and families regarding evaluation of outcomes for children with ADHD, particularly when pharmacological treatment is considered. Engaging in these approaches can promote culturally responsive practices and improve the quality of services provided to children with ADHD.
The Supporting Transition Resilience Of Newcomer Groups (STRONG; Hoover et al., 2019) program was developed to support mental health among newcomer refugee and immigrant students by (1) promoting positive adjustment during resettlement through a trauma‐informed, strengths‐based approach, contextualized to meet the needs of refugee and immigrant youth; and (2) improving access to services through school‐based programming. The purpose of this study was to examine the acceptability and effectiveness of STRONG on the mental health and resilience of refugee and immigrant students using a group randomized waitlist control design. A sample of 64 newcomer students ( M age = 13.9, SD = 3.11; 41% female) was recruited to participate in the STRONG program, representing 19 different countries of origin and diverse ethnicities (44% Latiné; 34% Asian; 13% Middle Eastern/North African; 8% African/Black). Additionally, teachers or administrators from each participating STRONG school completed interviews, while group facilitators (e.g., clinicians and bilingual teachers) were invited to participate in focus groups. This study provides preliminary evidence that STRONG supports newcomer mental health, with students in the immediate treatment group showing reductions in anxiety/depression and externalizing symptoms compared to the waitlist. Qualitative findings provide additional support for the acceptability and benefits of this intervention. However, coping efficacy unexpectedly decreased, and several interactions with school type (e.g., high school vs. elementary) emerged. Additional research is warranted to further evaluate this promising intervention for newcomer youth.
Introduction
Migrants face numerous risk factors for mental disorders, including stressors and traumatic events during the pre-, peri-, and post-migratory phases. Acculturation stress, a significant post-migratory stressor, can adversely affect mental health during the cultural adaptation process. This study aims to assess the clinical implications of acculturation stress in migrants admitted to a psychiatric intensive care unit, with a focus on identifying predictors of acculturative stress and their impact on clinical outcomes.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of 268 immigrant patients hospitalized between 2004 and 2019 at the psychiatric inpatient unit of the University of Foggia. We collected socio-demographic and clinical data using ad hoc schedules and validated assessment instruments, including the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Diagnoses were based on DSM-IV-TR/DSM-5 criteria. We analyzed associations between demographic and clinical characteristics of patients reporting acculturative stress and those not reporting it, using appropriate statistical methods.
Results
The majority of patients were diagnosed with affective (45.1%) or psychotic disorders (31.7%), with 57.1% experiencing their first psychiatric episode. Acculturation stress was reported by 51.9% of patients ( N = 139), predominantly among males (71.9%), single individuals (80.9%), and those of Islamic faith (56.8%). Patients experiencing acculturation stress were more likely to be unemployed (57.6%) and without a residence permit (63.3%). This stress was particularly prevalent among patients with psychotic disorders (25.9%) and first-episode psychiatric cases (64.7%). At discharge, patients with acculturation stress showed less improvement on CGI, GAF, and BPRS scores compared to those without such stress.
Conclusions
Acculturation stress is influenced by several socio-demographic factors and is crucial for the full symptomatic remission of migrant patients. Culturally-oriented mental health services, including language and cultural integration programs, are essential in reducing acculturative stress and improving the overall well-being of immigrants.
Background: Acculturative stress theory and the healthy immigrant paradox provide conflicting frameworks from which to study the mental health of immigrant groups. This scoping review aims to provide clarity on the mental health effects of acculturation. Review Question: How are anxiety, depression, and stress expressed in the adolescent and adult children of immigrants? Method: Considering various generational classifications, 1333 articles were screened and 25 articles were selected. This review highlights the presentation of cultural stress and its mental health effects in the children of immigrants ranging from 13 to 28 years of age. Conclusions: Social support is necessary as these children and young adults work to reconcile different worldviews. There is a need for a multifaceted approach to health care that incorporates the development of culturally appropriate responses to stressors. Collaboration among health practitioners growing in cultural competency can assist this population not only in the development of coping strategies, but also in self-actualization. The conflicting results found in this review suggest a need for more work in the area of acculturation stress, to grow the understanding of health practitioners within various cultural groups in order to transform mental health clinical practice.
The unique nature of mental health risks, as well as protective factors, in Arab Americans is explored from a developmental, cultural, and political perspective. The timing of immigration relative to age and historical events, reasons for immigration, and the political climate in the United States are considered in terms of the impact on identity as well as the degree and nature of stress experienced. A complex relationship between acculturation and both negative and positive mental health outcome is revealed. The most adaptive pattern of acculturation may depend upon an interaction of personal, cultural, and situational factors, including religious affiliation, education, available social resources, and nature of relocation. Recent immigrants with high levels of pre-immigration trauma as well as perceived hostility are at risk for mental health problems such as depression, panic, and PTSD. Arab Americans in general also experience heightened discrimination, which may further contribute to depression and anxiety. Yet, perceived personal control over hostile environments may enhance resilience. Cultural elements, including an emphasis on shame, may limit both help-seeking behaviors and clinical research. Assessment and treatment practices within a cultural context are detailed.KeywordsArab AmericanMental healthRisksProtective factorsImmigrationResilience
There is an increasing shift in focus from the causes of immigration to the consequences of immigration, a major aspect being the stress triggered by the myriad changes and challenges experienced during the process of moving into a different culture and settling in. The main aim of this chapter is to introduce the reader to the concept of acculturative stress in detail. The author has gathered the content by doing a keyword search of relevant terms on Google Scholar and choosing articles that provide insight into acculturation, acculturative stress, and psychological health. The chapter will delve into how the different strategies of acculturation are associated with the level of acculturative stress experienced and consequent mental health problems as well as strategies to manage or reduce acculturative stress.
Immigrant experiences in the U.S. can be particularly difficult, yet research indicates that family support and engagement on social networking sites with others who experience mental health issues can ameliorate their difficulties and improve psychological wellness. In order to determine what factors are related to immigrants’ mental health communication behaviors with family, we conducted a survey among U.S. immigrants (N = 331). Results indicated that social media mental health exposure (SMMHE) was positively related to open communication. Further, self-stigma mediates the relationship between SMMHE and open communication, providing evidence for the idea that the mere exposure effect can influence attitudes and behavior. As such, it is possible that exposure to mental health content on social media may positively influence offline communication behaviors.
Adolescents today are struggling with the normative stressors of this developmental stage which are compounded by the current social and environmental challenges specific to this time in history. Anxiety, depression, and suicide rates have skyrocketed over the last decade; adolescents cite climate change, COVID-19, gun violence, and school shootings as factors contributing to their anxiety levels. The need for intervening during this developmental stage is critical, as maladaptive behavior that is established during adolescence can have far-reaching consequences across the lifespan. This chapter explores how cultivating self-compassion during adolescence has the potential to be a critical intervening factor for adolescent health and well-being. We present literature demonstrating that self-compassion is associated with less anxiety, depression, and stress in adolescents, as well as studies showing how self-compassion influences relationships between stressors (e.g., perfectionism) and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., depression). Age and sex differences in self-compassion are also highlighted, as age and sex have been reported to moderate the relationship between self-compassion and outcomes. Additionally, we summarize findings from interventions which aim to cultivate self-compassion in adolescent populations. Limitations and future directions of the literature are discussed, including using standardized assessments, replicating manualized interventions, and comprising more diverse samples in a variety of settings, both clinical and nonclinical.KeywordsAdolescenceChild and adolescent psychologySelf-compassionDevelopmental psychologyWell-being
Career indecision is a substantial challenge for multicultural adolescents in South Korea. This study investigated the role of acculturation stress in adolescents and their parents in multicultural families on career decisions in South Korea. Perceived career barriers by adolescents and career-related behaviors of their parents were included as mediators. Using national panel data from 1695 cases longitudinally collected over the 3 years, the mediation analysis was conducted. The results showed that acculturation stress experienced by both adolescents and parents negatively predicted the adolescents’ career decisions. In addition, a sequential mediation effect of parental career-related behaviors and adolescents’ career barriers was found in the relationship between parental acculturation stress and adolescents’ career decisions. These results highlight the importance of acculturative stress experienced by families, and not just by individuals, in understanding the career development of multicultural adolescents. The implications of this study’s findings are discussed.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturative stress, psychological adjustment, and future orientation among international students in Turkey. 650 students were included in this research and the participants completed Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS), The College Adjustment Scale (CAS) and future Orientation Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using the SPSS 25.0 statistics program. Results indicated that a positive correlation was found between acculturative stress, psychological adjustment, and future orientation. The analysis showed that gender differences in psychological adjustment showed statistical significance among the students. Also, female students reported higher scores on acculturative stress than male students and they are more prone to homesickness, fear and interpersonal problems. The findings emphasize the potential role of psychological adjustment in relation to future orientation. The necessary steps need to be taken to prevent acculturative stress factors for students. Interventions by universities, authorities and other stakeholders should help prepare students socially and psychologically in the host culture for their future endeavors.
Objective
To enhance the quality of care and clinical outcomes for children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and persistent depressive disorder (PDD). The aims are 1) to summarize empirically-based guidance about the psychosocial and psychopharmacologic treatment of MDD and PDD in children and adolescents; and 2) to summarize expert-based guidance about the assessment of these disorders as an integral part of treatment, and the implementation of empirically-based treatments for these disorders in clinical practice.
Method
Statements about the treatment of MDD and PDD are based upon empirical evidence derived from a critical systematic review of the scientific literature conducted by the Research Triangle Institute International – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (RTI-UNC) Evidence-based Practice Center under contract with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Evidence from meta-analyses published since the AHRQ/RTI-UNC review is also presented to support or refute the AHRQ findings. Guidance about the assessment and clinical implementation of treatments for MDD and PDD is informed by expert opinion and consensus as presented in previously published clinical practice guidelines, chapters in leading textbooks of child and adolescent psychiatry, the DSM-5-TR, and government-affiliated prescription drug information websites.
Results
Psychotherapy (specifically cognitive behavioral and interpersonal therapies) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication have some rigorous (randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses) empirical support as treatment options. Because effective treatment outcomes are predicated in part upon accuracy of the diagnosis, depth of the clinical formulation, and breadth of the treatment plan, comprehensive, evidence-based assessment may enhance evidence-based treatment outcomes.
Conclusion
Disproportionate to the magnitude of the problem, there are significant limitations in the quality and quantity of rigorous empirical support for the etiology, assessment, and treatment of depression in children and adolescents. In the context of a protracted severe shortage of child and adolescent-trained behavioral health specialists, the demonstration of convenient, efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly delivery mechanisms for safe and effective treatment of MDD and PDD is a key research need. Other research priorities include the sequencing and comparative effectiveness of depression treatments, delineation of treatment mediators and moderators, effective approaches to treatment non-responders and disorder relapse/recurrence, long-term effects and degree of suicide risk with SSRI use, and the discovery of novel pharmacologic or interventional treatments.
In this article, we provide an overview on how to approach matters of forging a therapeutic alliance, empathetic listening, addressing issues related to obtaining informed consent, and limits of confidentiality, with cultural humility and nonjudgmental curiosity while working with diverse immigrants groups. We also discuss the use of broaching to discuss culturally sensitive topics with immigrant children and families The clinical pearls can be applied to different clinical scenarios and a variety of cross-cultural encounters.
Thwarted expectations regarding one's post-settlement life may challenge the mental health of refugees. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-arrival expectations and the course of psychological symptoms across time. A secondary analysis of 1,496 principal visa applicants across five waves of the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) study was conducted. The cross-sectional associations between expectations on the one hand, and post-traumatic stress (PTSD-8) symptoms and psychological distress (Kessler-6; K6) on the other, were assessed using multiple regression. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to identify discrete symptom trajectories of psychological symptoms across five years following settlement, and multinomial regressions were used to determine if violated expectations predicted membership of identified PTSD-8 and K6 class trajectories. LCGA supported a four-class solution for the PTSD-8 “Resilient Post Traumatic Stress (PTS)” (54.1%), “Improving PTS” (15.0%), “Deteriorating PTS” (17.3%), and “Persistently High PTS” (13.6%). For the K6, three classes were identified: “Persistently Mild K6” (60.4%), “Resilient K6” (9.4%), and “Persistently High K6” (30.2%). Thwarted expectations were found to significantly predict membership of less favourable symptom trajectories classes in the context of other established predictors. Post-settlement expectations may thus have weak but unique predictive value for the course of psychological symptoms alongside other factors such as older age and financial stress. Implications of these findings for service provision and policy are discussed.
Sağlık eşitsizlikleri göçmen ergenleri etkilemesine rağmen göçmen ergen ruh sağlığında ebeveyn kültürleşmesinin rolü belirsizliğini korumaktadır. Bu çalışmada Göçmen Çocuklar Boylamsal Çalışmasından (n=1,765) (Children of Immigrant Longitudinal Study) elde edilen veriler kullanılarak ebeveyn kültürü, sosyal bağlar ve kültürel mirasın önemi ile ergen depresyonu arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir. Ergen depresyonu, Epidemiyolojik Araştırmalar Merkezi-Depresyon (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression) Ölçeği ile ebeveyn kültürlenmesi ise İngilizce dil yeterlilikleri ve Amerikan yaşam tarzı tercihleri ile ölçülmüştür. Uygulanan regresyon analizi sonucunda, Amerikan yaşam tarzına yönelik ebeveyn tercihinin, diğer faktörlerden bağımsız olarak, daha düşük ergen depresyon seviyeleri ile ilişkili olduğunu göstermiş, ancak ebeveyn İngilizce dil yeterliliği ile ergen depresyon seviyesi arasında bir ilişki görülmemiştir. Göçmen ebeveynler ve çocukları arasındaki Amerikan yaşam tarzı tercihindeki uyumunun, ergen ruh sağlığı için koruyucu olduğu görülmüştür. Ebeveyn kültürlenmesinin farklı boyutlarının incelenmesi ve bunların ergen ruh sağlığıyla ilişkilerinin anlaşılması önemlidir ve daha fazla araştırılmayı gerektirmektedir.
Objective
The United States (U.S.) benefits economically and socially from the diverse skill-set and innovative contributions of immigrants. By applying a socio-ecological framework with an equity lens, we aim to provide an overview of the health of children in immigrant families (CIF) in the U.S., identify gaps in related research, and suggest future areas of focus to advance health equity.
Methods
The literature review consisted of identifying academic and gray literature using a MeSH Database, Clinical Queries, and relevant keywords in three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and BrowZine). Search terms were selected with goals of: 1) conceptualizing a model to of key drivers of health for CIF; 2) describing and classifying key drivers of health for CIF; and 3) identifying knowledge gaps.
Results
The initial search produced 1,120 results which were screened for relevance using a meta-narrative approach. Of these, 224 papers were selected, categorized by topic, and reviewed in collaboration with the authors. Key topic areas included patient and family outcomes, institutional and community environments, the impact of public policy, and opportunities for research. Key inequities were identified in health outcomes; access to quality health care, housing, education, employment opportunities; immigration policies; and inclusion in and funding for research. Important resiliency factors for CIF included strong family connections and social networks.
Conclusions
Broad structural inequities contribute to poor health outcomes among immigrant families. While resiliency factors exist, research on the impact of certain important drivers of health, such as structural and cultural racism, is missing regarding this population. More work is needed to inform the development and optimization of programs and policies aimed at improving outcomes for CIF. However, research should incorporate expertise from within immigrant communities. Finally, interventions to improve outcomes for CIF should be considered in the context of the socio-ecological model which informs the upstream and downstream drivers of health outcomes.
Children’s racial (e.g., Black, White, Indigenous) and ethnic (e.g., Mexican) identity can influence psychological, social, and academic outcomes. Despite evidence that awareness of racial–ethnic marginalization begins during preadolescence, there is minimal research examining how children talk about identity at this age. The purpose of this study was to examine how preadolescent Mexican American youth conceptualize “who they are.” Specifically, we used the Ethnic-Perspective Taking Ability interview protocol to explore how Mexican American youth, ages 9–11, understand their ethnicity. Thematic analysis revealed four themes: Self as “Other,” Self as Invisible, Self as a Politicized Being, and Self as Community. Participants discussed feeling out of place, often feeling excluded by Whiteness, and needing to code switch. These experiences also were juxtaposed with a sense of ethnic pride and comfort. Implications for practice, advocacy, education, and research are offered.
This study examines the impact of social class on the school-to-work (STW) transitions of young adults in working-class occupations. Using an exploratory, qualitative research methodology, interviews were conducted with 10 men and 10 women to examine the role of social class in the STW transition. All participants were working in low-skilled jobs and grouped into 2 cohorts based on their family's socioeconomic background: higher socioeconomic status (HSES) and lower socioeconomic status (LSES). The findings indicate that social class played an important role in the participants' STW transition. Individuals from the HSES cohort expressed greater interest in work as a source of personal satisfaction, higher levels of self-concept crystallization, greater access to external resources, and greater levels of career adaptability compared with their LSES counterparts.
We propose an integrative model for the adaptation of immigrant-origin children and youth that combines ecological with risk and resilience frameworks. Immigrant-origin children and youth are now, and will continue to be, a diverse and demographically important segment of all postindustrial nations’ populations. Synthesizing evidence across psychological, educational, and sociological disciplines produced since the seminal publication of García Coll et al.’s (1996) model, along with significant events such as a global refugee crisis, a sociopolitical “deportation nation” climate, and heightened xenophobia, we provide a model for understanding the current conditions immigrant-origin children and youth encounter as they develop. This new integrative conceptual model for addressing positive frameworks for adaptation provides a culturally relevant approach for understanding both the risks and resilience of this population. The model was designed to inform practice and future research in the service of immigrant-origin children and youth.
Introduction Methodological issues are important in acculturation research. The quality of inferences based on our studies can be bolstered by using adequate, up-to-date methods. The present chapter deals with two methodological issues: the design of acculturation studies and procedures to assess acculturation. A leading theme of this chapter is that a careful choice of methodological aspects of a study, such as study and instrument design, can go a long way to enhancing the quality of acculturation studies. Both the design and assessment issues are core topics in cross-cultural psychology. However, we do not discuss this more general methodological literature or specific assessment instruments here. These issues are addressed elsewhere: for the design of cross-cultural studies, see Van de Vijver (2015) and Van de Vijver and Leung (1997); for test adaptations and translations, see Hambleton, Merenda, and Spielberger (2005); for the increasingly popular combination of qualitative and quantitative procedures, known as mixed methods, see Tashakkori and Teddlie, (2003); for overviews of acculturation measures, see Berry, Trimble, and Olmedo (1986), Celenk and Van de Vijver (2011, 2014), Matsudaira (2006), and Rudmin (2009). In the last 30 years, acculturation research has diversified. The prototypical acculturation study examined a single ethnic group that had moved to another country. This type of study is nowadays only one of the many kinds reported in the literature. As noted in Chapter 2, the diversification of the field has added to the complexity of the issues to be addressed in the field. For example, the terms that were used previously have become less adequate; hence we provide here a note on the terminology to clarify our use of terms (see Figure 2.2 for a description of the various kinds of acculturating groups). First, the term mainstream culture refers to the culture of the dominant group(s) in a society. In one kind of society, there is clearly one such group (e.g., Germans in Germany). In many other countries the context of acculturation may be ethnically diverse (e.g., in societies where many groups have come to live together, labeled super-diversity; Vertovec, 2007); an example is London, which used the slogan the “world in one city” in the 2012 Olympics bid to indicate that every nation of the world is represented in the population of London.
Previous studies have consistently demonstrated the beneficial impacts of the acculturation strategy of integration and the detrimental impacts of the acculturation strategy of marginalization on adaptation outcomes. This study attempts to extend the existing literature by examining the potential moderating role of social support in the relationships between acculturation strategies and cross-cultural adaptation. Specifically, it was hypothesized that social support from family, local friends, and non-local friends would enhance the positive effects of the integration strategy and buffer the negative effects of the marginalization strategy on sociocultural and psychological adaptation. Participants were 188 Mainland Chinese sojourning university students in Hong Kong. Consistent with our predictions, social support from local friends was found to significantly moderate the effects of the integration and marginalization strategies on sociocultural and psychological adaptation. Unexpectedly, it was shown that social support from non-local friends significantly weakened the positive effect of the integration strategy on psychological adaptation. In addition, further analyses on the potentially domain-specific effects of acculturation strategies and social support on psychological adaptation showed that social support from local friends and non-local friends and acculturation strategies of integration and marginalization interacted to influence only one specific domain of psychological adaptation (mutual trust and acceptance). Implications of this study and possible explanations for the discordant findings are discussed.
At the dawn of a new century, new American ethnic groups are forming faster than ever before. The emerging ethnic groups of the United States in the 21st century will be the children and grandchildren of today’s immigrants. Their numbers and diversity will ensure that the process will have a profound societal impact. This new era of mass immigration – and hence of ethnogenesis – now overwhelmingly non-European in composition, is raising familiar doubts about the assimilability of the newcomers and alarms that they might become consigned to a vast multiethnic underclass, on the other side of a new 21st century “color line.” While assimilation is still deemed a master process in the study of today’s immigrants, it is a process subject to too many contingencies and affected by too many variables to render the image of a relatively uniform and straightforward path convincing. Instead, the present generation of children of immigrants is better defined as undergoing a process of “segmented assimilation” where outcomes vary across immigrant minorities, and where rapid integration and acceptance into the American mainstream represent just one possible alternative. Why this is so – and how it is that different groups may come to assimilate to different sectors of American society – is a complex story that is explored in this book. The chapters that follow examine systematically a wide range of factors that shape the incorporation of youths of diverse national origins – Mexican, Cuban, Nicaraguan, Filipino, Vietnamese, Haitian, Jamaican and other West Indian – coming of age in immigrant families on both coasts of the United States. They are based on an analysis of a rich new data set collected by the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS), the largest to date in the United States.
(PDF) Introduction–Ethnogenesis: Coming of age in immigrant America. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313092156_Introduction-Ethnogenesis_Coming_of_age_in_immigrant_America [accessed Oct 08 2019].
Much international research has examined the various ways in which immigrants engage both their new society and their heritage culture, and the relationship between these ways of engagement and their wellbeing. The present study examines these ways of engagement and this relationship in a representative sample of 7,000 immigrants to Canada. Immigrants’ sense of belonging to their source country and to Canada was used to assess their 2 cultural engagements; life satisfaction and self-rated mental health were used to assess their wellbeing. The study created 4 acculturation strategies from the 2 sense of belonging measures: high sense of belonging to both their source country and to Canada (integration), high for Canada and low for source country (assimilation), low for Canada and high for source country (separation), and low for both (marginalisation). We found that those using the integration and assimilation strategies had the highest scores of life satisfaction (but they did not differ from each other), while separation and marginalisation had significantly lower scores. For mental health, integration and separation had the highest scores (but did not differ from each other), while assimilation and marginalisation had significantly lower scores. We also found that the immigrant sample had significantly higher scores of life satisfaction and mental health than the nonimmigrants sample. In addition to the relationship with acculturation strategies, we examined some demographic and social predictors of life satisfaction and mental health. Some implications for settlement policy and practice and for service to immigrants are discussed.
Immigrants and their children come to the U.S. in search of upward mobility, but in many contexts they experience discrimination and restrictive political climates. Contexts vary widely, however, given the growing number of new immigrant destinations. Past studies tend to focus on what immigrants and their children are (or are not) doing to adapt to local contexts, a focus that strengthens the perception that immigrants are a “problem” group. In this article, we move the debate away from more familiar economic analyses to assess how destination type and exclusionary ordinances, defined as laws that restrict the rights of and services accorded to immigrant groups, influence “subjective” outcomes, including reports of discrimination among Mexican Americans. Our results reveal three main findings that illustrate the importance of local context. First, individuals living in a county with a greater share of co-ethnics report fewer experiences with discrimination. Second, in counties with an exclusionary ordinance, share of co-ethnics increases reports of discrimination. Finally, being born in the U.S. and speaking English do not provide protection from discrimination; rather, such characteristics shield Mexican Americans from discrimination only in contexts with larger shares of co-ethnics.
Immigration is a life changing cultural transition that involves dealing with a variety of challenges having mental health implications. Multiple preimmigration circumstances and postimmigration conditions affect how migration is experienced, as do unique individual, family, and cultural factors. Without considering these factors, those who work with immigrants and those who conduct research with immigrants may at best fail to understand the psychological needs of the people they are working with, and at worst pathologize their experiences, perpetuating stereotypes, and/or contribute to feelings of alienation. In this chapter, we will first provide an overview of acculturation processes affecting immigrants to the USA and how acculturative stress can affect immigrant families, in terms of experiences in school and mental health outcomes. In the second section, we will present findings from two separate studies we conducted to illustrate the role of acculturation in the lives of children and adolescents. We conclude by describing how longitudinal research can improve our information about the mental health needs of immigrant families, and areas that should be focused on in future studies. We also talk about how our findings on the relations between acculturative stress and mental health can inform mental health practitioners, and our findings on cultural mismatch can inform teachers and school administrators.
Aims
As the specific acculturative tasks and challenges involved in the migration process can lead to an increased risk for depressive symptoms, the study was designed to gain further insight into the interrelation between acculturation styles and mental health.
Methods
A total of n = 90 patients with different ethnic backgrounds from an outpatient consultation service for immigrants at the Hannover Medical School were investigated by the Hannover Migration and Mental Health Interview (HMMH), the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Frankfurt Acculturation Scale (FRAKK).
Results
The majority of the subjects (84.4%) had a clinically significant depression. The extent of depressive symptoms was determined by the selected acculturation style (1) (F = 3.29, p = .025): Subjects with integration as acculturation style showed less depressive symptoms than subjects with assimilation as acculturation style. Furthermore, subjects with segregation as acculturation style also showed less depressive symptoms than subjects with assimilation.
Conclusion
The results suggest that even when undergoing extreme emotional distress, eventually leading to mental disorder, integration, as an acculturation style, seems to serve as a protective resource and possibly prevents further decline.
Amidst changing patterns of accommodation and conflict among American ethnic groups, there remains a paucity of research on the nature and impact of racial and ethnic discrimination on development in multiethnic samples of youth. The Adolescent Discrimination Distress Index along with measures of caregiver racial bias preparation and self-esteem was administered to 177 adolescents drawn from 9th–12th graders self-identified as African American, Hispanic, East Asian, South Asian, and non-Hispanic white. Youth from all ethnic backgrounds reported distress associated with instances of perceived racial prejudice encountered in educational contexts. Instances of institutional discrimination in stores and by police were higher for older youth and particularly for African American and Hispanic teenagers. Encounters with peer discrimination were reported most frequently by Asian youth. Reports of racial bias preparation were associated with distress in response to institutional and educational discrimination and self-esteem scores were negatively correlated with distress caused by educational and peer discrimination. The importance of research on discrimination distress to understanding adolescent development in multiethnic ecologies is discussed here.
Acculturative stress is a risk factor for depression, and may be important in the risk for depression among acculturating Japanese adolescents. However, little to no research has been published on the mental health of acculturating Japanese adolescents. Further, although family cohesion has been shown to be protective against depression across ethnic groups, no prior research has examined family cohesion as a protective factor for Japanese adolescents. To examine these relationships, 26 Japanese temporary resident adolescents and 76 parents in the Midwest were recruited to participate. Moderate to strong correlations between acculturative stress, depression, likelihood for and seriousness of family conflict were found. A regression analysis found that likelihood for family conflict moderated the relationship between acculturative stress and depression. Findings broaden our understanding of the role of acculturative stress and family conflict on depression risk for Japanese adolescent immigrants.
Biculturalism (having two cultures) is a growing social phenomenon that has received considerable attention in psychology in the last decade; however, the issue of what impact (if any) biculturalism has on individuals’ adjustment remains empirically unclear. To answer this question, we conducted a meta-analysis that included 83 studies, 322 rs, and 23,197 participants. Results based on the random-effects approach show a significant, strong, and positive association between biculturalism and adjustment (both psychological and sociocultural). This biculturalism- adjustment link is stronger than the association between having one culture (dominant or heritage) and adjustment. Thus, our results clearly invalidate early sociological accounts of this phenomenon, which portrayed bicultural individuals as “marginal” and stumped between two worlds. Analyses also indicate that the association between biculturalism and adjustment is moderated by how acculturation is measured, the adjustment domain, and sample characteristics.
Growing numbers of people are being exposed to a second culture, yet the process by which individuals absorb a cultural identity and the role played by second-culture exposure in shaping sociocognitive skills have received little theoretical attention. This article begins to fill these knowledge gaps by delineating the factors that affect the adoption of specific acculturation strategies and focusing on the power of secondculture exposure to stimulate integratively complex cognitions that give people the flexibility to shift rapidly from one cultural meaning system to another. We propose a model, influenced by prior work on value pluralism and accountability, which outlines the underlying mechanisms that determine acculturation choice and that produce both individual difference and situational variation in integrative complexity of social functioning. Implications for expatriate performance are discussed.
Acculturative stress and specific coping strategies were assessed in a group of 214 multicultural college undergraduates of both sexes who were divided into four generational status groups: early immigrants (immigrated before 12 years of age) and late immigrants (immigrated after age 12), second-generation and third-generation. Also explored was the relationship of acculturative stress to self-esteem, locus of control and loyalty to American culture. The self-administered questionnaire contained the short version of the Padilla SAFE Acculturative Stress Measure, a loyalty toward American culture scale, Rotter's Internal/External Locus of Control scale, and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Findings revealed that late immigrant students experienced greater acculturative stress than the other groups. Also, late immigrants coped with stress more frequently by taking a direct, planned action (individualistic) approach, while secondand third-generation groups more often coped by talking to others about the problem (social network). Early immigrants employed both coping strategies.
The authors investigated the emergence of gender differences in clinical depression and the overall development of depression from preadolescence to young adulthood among members of a complete birth cohort using a prospective longitudinal approach with structured diagnostic interviews administered 5 times over the course of 10 years. Small gender differences in depression (females greater than males) first began to emerge between the ages of 13 and 15. However, the greatest increase in this gender difference occurred between ages 15 and 18. Depression rates and accompanying gender differences for a university student subsample were no different than for a nonuniversity subsample. There was no gender difference for depression recurrence or for depression symptom severity. The peak increase in both overall rates of depression and new cases of depression occurred between the ages of 15 and 18. Results suggest that middle-to-late adolescence (ages 15–18) may be a critical time for studying vulnerability to depression because of the higher depression rates and the greater risk for depression onset and dramatic increase in gender differences in depression during this period.
Immigration to the United States is largely a family affair. The family is a “strategic research site” for understanding the dynamics of immigration flows and of immigrant adaptation processes, as well as their long-term consequences for both sending and especially receiving countries such as the United States. Kinship is also central to understanding U.S. immigration policies - marriage and close family ties are the basis for longstanding selection criteria built into U.S. immigration law. To varying degrees of closeness, millions of immigrants in the U.S. today, plus millions more of their U.S. - born offspring, are embedded in often intricate webs of family ties, both here and abroad. They form extraordinary transnational linkages and networks that can, by reducing the costs and risks of migration, expand and serve as a conduit to additional and thus potentially self-perpetuating migration. Such chaining processes lead to remarkably dense ethnic concentrations in U.S. cities, consisting of entire community segments from places of origin. The import of immigrant family connections goes far beyond their functions for chain or circular migration and local support. Remittances sent by immigrants to family members back home link communities across national borders and are vital to the economies of many sending countries. That embeddedness in family, in a web of primary ties of affection, trust, and obligation, is at once a rich resource and a potential vulnerability. Family ties are a source of both positive and negative "social capital", i.e., a resource that inheres not in the individual but in social (familial) relationships that can cut both ways, enabling as well as constraining particular outcomes. Especially among immigrant families moving from one sociocultural environment to another, role dissonance in rapidly changing marital and parent-child relationships can intensify conflicts and lead to family breakdown. Immigrant families come in all shapes and must confront dramatically different contexts of adaptation. To make sense of the diversity of immigrant families we need to begin with the recognition that it makes no sense to speak of a singular immigrant family experience. This study, based on both national and regional data, examines the effects of migration on family outcomes over time, looking selectively at some contemporary patterns of immigrant family structure, change, and conflict, and at the effect of family characteristics and contexts on the educational attainment and aspirations of their children, both those who came at an early age and those who were born in the U.S. of immigrant parents.
In the wake of the events of September 11, Muslim-American youth found that the multiple cultures within which they live were suddenly and alarmingly in conflict. The developmental consequences of living in a world fractured by religious and ethnic terror have yet to be determined for Muslim youth in the United States. This exploratory, mixed-method study begins to examine how Muslim youth negotiate their identities in these challenging times. Documented in the surveys, narrated in the interviews, and drawn into their identity maps, Muslim-American youth (n = 70) ages 12 to 18, vividly portrayed their interior lives as a dialectic labor of psychological reconciliation – piecing together what we call hyphenated selves. The results show that Muslim youth experience discrimination, sometimes to an extreme degree. We observed diversity in how youth deal with the challenges of growing up Muslim in post 9/11 US, ranging from “telling nobody” to policing each other within the Muslim community. In addition we found that males and females negotiate their Muslim and American identities in different ways.
This study investigated Korean-American adolescents' stress related to their acculturation experiences and mental health. A total of 260 Korean-American adolescents from immigrant families (ages 12–18 years) participated in the study. The U.S. born group had a higher level of acculturative stress than the Korea-born group (t = 2.222; df = 258; p < .05). Males reported a higher level of self-esteem than females (t = −2.112; df = 257; p < .05). Acculturative stress was positively correlated with depression (r = .299; p < .01) and negatively related to self-esteem (r = −.292; p < .01). Self-esteem was negatively related to depression (r = −.536; p < .01).
This study determines elements of a social history that could assist primary care providers in identifying and treating anxiety and depression among immigrant Mexicans. Cross-sectional data were obtained through interviewer-administered survey questionnaires from immigrant Latinos in the United States fewer than 5 years (N = 150). Interviews were conducted by native Spanish-speakers in community settings. Mental health was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Mental health in this sample was poor with nearly 40% indicating levels of anxiety and depression that may impair functioning. Social marginalization was associated with higher depression symptoms in men, and separation from family stress was associated with more depressive symptoms among women. When caring for immigrant Latinos, questions about social isolation and separation from family may provide insight into stress and its contribution to clinically significant anxiety and depression. These characteristics should also be considered when offering a treatment plan for anxiety and depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
grasp of the concepts and measurement techniques which relate to conducting acculturation research
framework for identifying variables and relationships in acculturation research
specific variables and their measurement / individual contact or participation variables / attitudes toward the acculturation process / psychological consequences of acculturation
relevance to individual assessment in other domains (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
As low as the rate of mental health help-seeking is among Asian Americans, Filipino Americans seek mental health services at a much lower rate even compared with other Asian Americans. Despite the field’s progress in identifying and understanding factors that may influence mental health help-seeking attitudes among Asian Americans, despite research on other minority groups suggesting that cultural mistrust may influence attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and despite the abundance of literature documenting the historical and contemporary experiences of oppression by Filipino Americans, the possibility that cultural mistrust may play a significant role in Filipino Americans’ mental health help-seeking attitudes have yet to be empirically investigated. Thus, using a sample of 118 Filipino Americans, the current study demonstrates that higher levels of cultural mistrust is related to lower likelihood of seeking professional psychological help. Furthermore, cultural mistrust predicted variance in mental health help-seeking attitudes that are not accounted for by income, generational status, loss of face, and adherence to Asian cultural values. Implications for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The present study examined whether maladaptive perfectionism (i.e., discrepancy between expectations and performance) and length of time in the United States moderated the association between acculturative stress and depression. Data were collected through online surveys from 189 Chinese international students from China and Taiwan attending a midwestern university. Results from a hierarchical regression showed that there were significant main effects of acculturative stress and maladaptive perfectionism on depression, no significant two-way interactions, and a significant three-way interaction, indicating that acculturative stress, maladaptive perfectionism, and length of time in the United States interacted to predict depression. Low maladaptive perfectionism buffered the effect of acculturative stress on depression only for those who had been in the United States for a relatively longer period of time. Implications for counseling and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This paper presents a comparative analysis of the effects of acculturation and acculturative stress on the self-esteem of Hispanic/Latino adolescents. The study is comparative in that it focuses on variations among both immigrant and native-born Hispanics. The data were derived from a longitudinal study of adolescents (n = 6,760) being conducted in Miami, Florida. The sample for this paper (n = 4,296) consisted of all the adolescents of Hispanic heritage. A complex patterning of acculturative strains was found for US.-and foreign-born adolescents. Acculturation strains and family pride have more powerful effects on self-esteem as acculturation increases among the foreign born, but the opposite is true for the U.S. born. The proportion of variance explained by the acculturation strains and family pride is greater for the U.S.-born adolescents (range = 21% to 29%) than for those who are foreign born (range = 15% to 19%). The findings indicate that much of the research on this subject has failed to reflect the differential processes of psychosocial adjustment faced by immigrant and nonimmigrant adolescents. There are differences in the types of strains reported, as well as in the effects of the strains on self-esteem. Low acculturation adolescents who are U.S. born have an especially problematic profile of strain, whereas bicultural adolescents born in the United States appear to have the best profile. The results suggest a need to advance from simple linear explanations to multifactorial stress models that will increase our understanding of the acculturative process.
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Cross-cultural psychology has demonstrated important links between cultural context and individual behavioural development. Given this relationship, cross-cultural research has increasingly investigated what happens to individuals who have developed in one cultural context when they attempt to re-establish their lives in another one. The long-term psychological consequences of this process of acculturation are highly variable, depending on social and personal variables that reside in the society of origin, the society of settlement, and phenomena that both exist prior to, and arise during, the course of acculturation. This article outlines a conceptual framework within which acculturation and adaptation can be investigated, and then presents some general findings and conclusions based on a sample of empirical studies.
Immigrant Stories portrays the contexts and academic trajectories of development of three unique immigrant groups: Cambodian, Dominican and Portuguese. The children of immigrant families or second generation youth are the fastest growing population of school children in the US. However, very little is known about these children’s academic and psychological development during middle childhood. We examine the previously under-explored intricacies of children’s emerging cultural attitudes and identities, academic engagement, and academic achievement. These processes are studied alongside a myriad of factors in the family and school environment that combine to shape children’s academic psychological functioning during this important period. Through a three-year longitudinal study, including interviews with teachers, parents and children, this book presents a fascinating look at the community, school, and family contexts of child development among second-generation children. Both pre-immigration and post-immigration characteristics are explored as critical factors for understanding children of immigrants’ development. In the current climate of US immigration policy debate, we offer research findings that may inform educators and administrators about the sources of community strengths and challenges facing our newest immigrant generations.
International migration research has focused on the immigrants’ mental and physical health issues with little attention paid to factors that facilitate adjustment. Recently cross-cultural researchers have tended to focus on certain psychological and social moderators of stress that differentiate between migrants perceiving higher stress and those remaining relatively unscathed. The present study examined the moderating impact of coping resources (sense of coherence and perceived social support) and coping strategies (problem-focused and emotion-focused) on the relationship between acculturative stress and psychological well-being (positive functioning and negative health outcomes) in stress-coping model. On a final sample of 308 Pakistani immigrants residing in Greater Toronto Area a series of moderated hierarchical regression analyses were performed separately for positive and negative health outcomes. Results indicated that sense of coherence and perceived social support moderated between acculturative stress and positive functioning (self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, personal growth), and acculturative stress and negative health outcomes (depression, psychosomatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction).The current findings have implications for clinicians, researchers, and policy makers for the identification of resource factors that help to understand the resistant power of growing immigrant population to maintain positive functioning.
This study identified a constellation of psychosocial problems reported by older Asian American adolescents that was different from their Caucasian peers. When compared to 386 Caucasian American adolescents from the same community, Asian American students performed better academically and reported fewer delinquent behaviors. However, these Asian American youth reported higher levels of depressive symptomatology, withdrawn behavior, and social problems. They also perceived themselves more poorly and were more dissatisfied with their social support. These differences highlight the unique mental health needs of older Asian American youth. Practice recommendations are made that consider traditional Asian values and the role that family members can play in the development of effective treatment plans.
The relationship between acculturative stress and mental health symptoms and the role of social support as a moderator of this relationship was studied among Korean international students (N=74) living in the Pittsburgh area. Findings included: (1) acculturative stress was strongly correlated with mental health symptoms; (2) social support moderated and buffered the effect of stress on symptoms. Students with high levels of social support were significantly less likely to report symptoms with increasing levels of acculturative stress, compared to students reporting low levels of social support; and (3) the buffering effect of support was mainly or exclusively present when there was a high level of acculturation to American language and interpersonal associations. Granting limitations imposed by the small convenience sample, the study supports the theoretical buffering role for social support in the context of acculturative processes and suggests the need for facilitating the support systems of international students, particularly as they become more acculturated.
This study used self-report symptom inventories administered in school classrooms to examine relations among gender, psychological symptoms, stress, and coping in 1,200 low-income African American urban early adolescents. Girls reported more symptoms than boys, accounted for by higher internalizing symptoms. Boys reported more stress than girls, particularly major events, controllable events, exposure to violence, and sexual stressors. Boys in gangs reported greater exposure to sexual stressors than non-gang members. Expressing feelings coping, used more by girls, was related to more symptoms and is posited to be a type of co-rumination. Rumination coping, used as a primary strategy by both boys and girls, was related to higher symptom levels. Risk to low-income African American boys from high violence exposure and sexual stressors, the problematic effect of maladaptive coping strategies for youth exposed to high stress, and how culture and experience are relevant to understanding gender differences in psychological symptoms are discussed.
Individual (coping strategies), family (parent/child relationships), and community-based (religious involvement) variables were examined as potential protective factors for 224 low-income urban sixth-through eighth-grade African American adolescents. Each of those variables was examined as a moderator, and analyses were conducted to determine whether the association between stress and psychological symptoms was attenuated for youth endorsing positive coping strategies, strong parent/child relationships, and religious involvement. Results indicated that positive relationships with father figures buffered the effects of stress on externalizing symptoms for boys and for girls; religious involvement was protective for girls but not for boys. The sole coping strategy to demonstrate a protective effect was avoidant coping, which attenuated the relation between stress and externalizing symptoms for boys. Supplemental analyses focusing on specific subsets of stressful experiences indicated that avoidant coping and social support-seeking coping accentuated the relation between daily hassles and internalizing symptoms for girls.
The transition to high school may serve as a race/ethnicity consciousness-raising experience that stimulates the development of one’s racial/ethnic identity depending on newcomers’ racial/ethnic congruence with the student body and staff, as well as their perceived social transactions with the new school. The nature of this development was tested within samples of poor, urban, Black, White, and Latino students (n = 144). Racial/ethnic identity (group-esteem and exploration) and perceived transactions with school (academic hassles, participation, and social support) were assessed at the end of both the year prior to the transition and the transition year. The results suggested that changes over the transition to senior high school served as a race/ethnicity consciousness-raising experience for both Black and European American students but in dramatically different ways.
Ethnic identity is an important component of the self-concept and, like other aspects of identity, can be particularly salient during adolescence. Most research on ethnic identity has focused on the unique elements that distinguish particular ethnic groups. However, it is important as well to study and compare ethnic identity and its correlates across groups. This article presents a questionnaire measure of ethnic identity based on the elements of ethnic identity that are common across groups, so that it can be used with all ethnic groups. The questionnaire was administered to 417 high school students and 136 college students from ethnically diverse schools. Reliability, assessed by Cronbach 's alpha, was .81 for the high school sample and .9Ofor the college sample. The relationship of ethnic identity to various demographic variables and to self-esteem was examined. The measure can be used to examine similarities and differences in ethnlic identity and its correlates among youths from different ethnic groups.
This study collected data from 422 seventh- and eighth-grade adolescents in 2005 and 391 seventh- and eighth-grade adolescents in 2006 in a medium-sized Midwestern community as part of a larger longitudinal study. The 2006 data collection occurred at the height of the national debate about immigration policy and practice. The fortuitous timing of the data collection allowed the authors to compare the responses of seventh- and eighth-grade Latino adolescents surveyed in 2005 with seventh- and eighth-grade students surveyed in 2006 to examine how the debate related to adolescent ethnic identity development and well-being. Using multiple regression analyses the study found evidence that the debate moved eighth-grade Latino students from the undifferentiated stage of ethnic identity development to the exploration stage. Furthermore, it was found that the debate was related to increased levels of acculturative stress and general stress among first-generation eighth-grade Latino students.
As the United States becomes increasingly diverse and the inclusion of children, women, and ethnic minorities in research is encouraged for clinical research (National Institutes of Health, 199827.
National Institutes of Health. (1998). NIH policy and guidelines on the inclusion of children as participants in research involving human subjects. Retrieved November 20, 2006, from http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html View all references, 200126.
National Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC) Workgroup on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Intervention Development and Deployment. 2001. Blueprint for change: Research on child and adolescent mental health., Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institute of Mental Health. View all references), researchers are increasingly responsible for examining the role of social context and cultural processes in mental health and illness among racially and ethnically diverse families including immigrant and nonimmigrant families. Strong theoretical frameworks, developmental approaches, and innovative methodologies are available to determine why and how cultural processes matter for mental health across the life span. The task, however, requires an expansion on and refinement of traditional demographic indicators and cultural variables such as acculturation and racial identity to examine complex social and cultural processes in greater detail. Conceptual advances in recent culturally relevant and developmentally sensitive longitudinal studies and national surveys suggest the potential of new methodologies to inform efforts to reduce health disparities for mental health. Future research on specific cultural processes across the life span may uncover critical periods of risk and vulnerability, potential for resilience, as well as optimal opportunities for mental health prevention and treatment among racial/ethnic minority and immigrant families.
In this chapter, the authors seek to address these critical questions by first describing how cultural processes shape psychopathology by infusing experiences of distress with meaning and organizing distress in ways coherent with the social context. The authors examine how Asians, in particular, may employ somatic metaphors as a culturally mediated form of distress that conveys communal bodily, emotional, and social meanings, and the authors evaluate to what extent Asian Americans consequently somatize mental illness symptoms. In the next major section, the authors evaluate evidence relevant to the prevalence and manifestation of psychopathology among Asian Americans. They begin by reviewing how prevalent mental disorders are within Asian countries and how the experience of psychopathology may change among Asian Americans due to processes linked with immigration to the United States. The authors then briefly review the major principles of constructing cross-cultural assessments of psychiatric disorders before evaluating psychopathology research on Asian Americans, specifically focusing on mental health utilization studies and research on neurasthenia, anxiety, schizophrenia-spectrum, and major depressive disorders. The authors conclude by returning to our original questions regarding prevalence and manifestation of psychopathology among Asian Americans and identifying areas that need further study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
focus [on] the psychological effects of migration on children / in the past, the guiding frameworks and research have concentrated on the negative impact of migration / more recently, we and others . . . are trying to present a more balanced and thorough view / that is, throughout this chapter we have tried to take into account the possible positive benefits of migration, the influence of the developmental stage on the adjustment process, the complexity of the involved processes, and the crucial influence of the present historical, political, economical, and educational contexts
overview of research / children's reactions to stress / stressors of the migration experience / refugee children and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) / development of a dual frame of reference and biculturalism / bilingualism / identity and self / coping with discrimination, racism, and prejudice (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)