Acculturative
Stress
[1] For
immigrants, the demands of adjusting to a new culture can
be a significant source of stress. Establishing a
new life in one's adopted country can be a difficult adjustment,
especially when there are differences in language and culture and few available
jobs or training opportunities. One significant source of stress
is pressure to become acculturated—to adapt to the values, linguistic
preferences, and customs of the host or dominant culture. How does
acculturative stress, which results from this pressure, affect psychological
health and adjustment?
[2] What
we've learned is that relationships between acculturation and psychological
adjustment are complex (Escobar & Vega, 2000). Some researchers
find that acculturated Hispanic Americans are more likely to develop psychological
disorders than their less acculturated counterparts (Ortega et al., 2000).
Others find that Mexican Americans born in the United States tend to show
higher rates of psychological problems than recent immigrants
from Mexico (Escobar, Hoyos Nervi, & Gara, 2000). But still other researchers
link lower acculturation status among Hispanic Americans to
higher risks of depression and anxiety (Neff & Hoppe, 1993; Salgado
de Snyder, Cervantes, & Padilla, 1990; Zamanian, et al., 1992).
[3] In
attempting to understand these mixed findings, we should note that the process
of adjusting successfully to a new society depends on a number of factors.
For example, stress associated with economic hardship is a major contributor
to adjustment problems in immigrant groups, as it is for members
of the host culture. And difficulties faced by poorly acculturated immigrants
in gaining an economic foothold in the host country may lead to anxiety
and depression. Not surprisingly, a study of immigrant Chinese
children in the United States showed more adjustment problems among
those living in more economically stressful situations (Short
& Johnston, 1997). Yet acculturation can lead to an erosion of traditional
family networks, which in turn may increase vulnerability to psychological
disorders in the face of stress (Ortega et al., 2000)
[4] All
in all, factors such as economic opportunity, language proficiency, and
connections to a social network of people whom one can identify
with and draw support from may underlie the psychological adjustment
of immigrant groups. Maintaining a sense of ethnic identity
may also buffer the effects of stress (Ryder et al., 2000; Thompson et al.,
2000). Studies of Asian Americans show that establishing contacts
with the majority culture while maintaining one's ethnic identity
generates less stress than withdrawal and separation (Huang,
1994). Withdrawal fails to prepare the individual to make the
necessary adjustments to function effectively in a multicultural
society. But we should not be surprised by evidence showing that Asian
American adolescents with a stronger sense of ethnic identity
tend to be better psychologically adjusted and to have higher
self-esteem than their less affiliated counterparts (Phinney & Alipuria,
1990; Huang, 1994).
Skills
Activities Overview Presentation
Main Page
Complete
the following activity about acculturative stress with your classmates. Refer
to the selection to support your point of view.
1.Describe some of the factors which contribute to
acculturative stress.
2.Compare the work of researchers about the likelihood
of acculturated versus non-acculturated Hispanic-Americans would have in
developing psychological problems.
3.Describe some of the difficulties immigrants might
face if they become acculturated.
4.Identify some factors that lead to an acculturation
experience with less stress and more psychological adjustment.