SL - Cultural influences on individual attitudes, identity and behaviours - acculturation

Question 1

Berry

Answer 1

High maintenance of heritage culture with high cultural adaptation -> Integration
High maintenance of heritage culture with low cultural adaptation -> Separation
Low maintenance of heritage culture with high cultural adaptation -> Assimilation
Low maintenance of heritage culture with low cultural adaptation -> Marginalisation

Question 2

Ince (2014)

Answer 2

Aim ->
To clarify the relationship between acculturation strategies and the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders as well as utilisation of GP care among Turkish migrants.

Method ->
Questionnaires and interviews
Demographic information was collected, the Lowlands Acculturation Scale (modified) was used (to determine acculturation strategy) and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was followed (to determine health status). Official translations were used (translated from the original into Turkish and then back-translated to ensure consistency of language). The LAS was modified so that responses could be categorised as high/low in participation and maintenance so that acculturation strategies could be more easily identified. Diagnoses were based on DSM-IV criteria.

Results ->
Acculturation was significantly associated with depression. Ppts with depression were mostly separated (one of Berry’s strategies) while integration (another strategy) had the lowest number of depressed ppts.
Younger, well-educated, employed immigrants with a romantic partner were most likely to be integrated into Dutch society. Non-participatory acculturation strategies (separation and marginalisation) showed a higher prevalence for depression.

Conclusion ->
Acculturation strategy is related to rates of depression:
Because low SES is a risk factor for developing mental health disorders it is difficult to know how directly acculturation strategy relates to depression.
This research fits well with other studies with similar findings.
Acculturation strategies and the possible connection to mental health issues should be something medical practitioners are aware of and should be considered from a public health perspective.

Evaluation ->

✔
✔

❌
❌

Question 3

Nap (2015)

Answer 3

Aim ->
To explore the association between acculturation, mental health and treatment effect

Method ->
Participants:
212 Surinamese, 328 Moroccan and 197 Turkish immigrants who were sufficiently fluent in Dutch and who had attended one of three outpatient mental health clinics in Amsterdam from 2005 to 2009. Questionnaires measuring acculturation, need for care/support, mental health and general state of health (all self-reported) were used as part of the general registering of patients in the clinics. They were followed up six months later (making this a longitudinal study) to determine treatment outcomes.

Results -> 
Surinamese immigrants (those from a former Dutch colony) had most relevant skills (e.g. competence in language; understanding how Dutch society worked and how to access what they needed) and maintained fewest traditions compared with other immigrants, while reporting most social integration and least sense of loss of their former culture. Turkish immigrants had the fewest relevant skills and highest preservation of traditions, while reporting least social integration and the greatest sense of loss. Depression was separately but significantly associated with lack of skills, poor social integration and a sense of loss of heritage culture. Turkish > Moroccan > Surinamese for diagnoses of depression. Level of participation in Dutch society was significantly negatively associated with symptom level and positively with quality of life six months after treatment began.

Conclusion ->
Acculturation strategy is related to mental health as more cultural maintenance appeared to be correlated with more symptoms. Participation seems to be a favorable factor specifically for treatment effect, possibly by facilitating communication and therapy commitment. Patients who are more adapted to the new society might be more involved in treatment goals and may receive more qualitative treatment from their therapist

Evaluation ->

✔
✔

❌ Correlation is not causation
❌

Question 4

Acculturation

Answer 4

The process by which people change as they come into contact with other cultures.