Discuss one or more studies of acculturation. - ERQ Flashcards
What is acculturation?
The process of adapting and changing as a result of living in a new culture (Berry, 2002).
According to Berry’s model, it is when an individual loses a sense of belonging to his or her heritage cultures and completely adopts and adapts to the norms and values of their new culture.
What does Berry’s model of acculturation try to explain?
This model attempts to explain that acculturation (the process by which migrants adjust and develop relationships with the new culture and maintain their original culture.
What are the 4 acculturation strategies?
Assimilation: losing belonging to the heritage culture and completely adopting the cultural norms of the new culture.
Integration: adopting the cultural values and norms of the nw culture while painting strong connections with the heritage culture.
Separation: maintain the norms and values of the home culture and rejecting the new culture.
Marginalisation: losing a sense of belonging to both the heritage culture and the new culture.
What did Lueck and Wilson want to find out?
To investigate the variables that may predict acculturative stress in a nationally representative sample of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans
What was the procedure of Lueck and Wilson?
The researchers carried out semi-structured interviews.
The interviews measured the participants’ level of acculturative stress. They also measured the impact of language proficiency, language preference, discrimination, social networks, family cohesion, and socioeconomic status on acculturative stress.
What conclusions were drawn from Lueck and Wilson?
A bilingual language preference contributed to lower acculturative stress. Asians who are able to use both languages equally with their friends are able to build up networks of support within and outside their community. Stress may arise when Asian Americans do not know the native language well enough to discuss sensitive issues with family members at home or in the native country who may have limited or no abilities in English
Although bilingualism is a predictor of low acculturative stress, the preference for speaking English only is a predictor of high acculturative stress.
Negative treatment – including prejudice, xenophobia, harassment, and threats - significantly contributed to higher acculturative stress.
Sharing similar values and beliefs as a family significantly contributed to lowering acculturative stress
Acculturative stress was significantly lower among those who were very satisfied with their economic opportunities in the US and also among immigrants who, if they would have to make the decision again, would still move to the United States.
What did certain studies find out on immigrants and acculturation?
Many studies of acculturation have reported that “greater” degrees of acculturation were associated with problematic health outcomes - a phenomenon known as the immigrant paradox.
What study presents the immigrant paradox?
Nap et al.
Aim of Nap et al
To see how acculturation strategies influence mental health.
Procedure of Nap et al
Participants were Moroccan, Surinamese and Turkish immigrant who moved to the Netherlands
Surveys were used to gather data on social integration and mental health symptoms.
Results of Nap et al.
Not all cultures integrated equally - Surinamese had the greatest while Turkish had the least.
There was a modest (but statically significant) negative correlation between social integration and mental health symptoms.
Integrated immigrants needed less future care.
Conclusions of Nap et al.
One’s heritage culture could affect the acculturation strategy used.
Immigrants who acculturate through integration have better mental health outcomes than others.
Supports immigrant paradox.
