& Acculturation Adjustment
PSY M107/AAS M117
Outline
Acculturation and Adjustment Unidimensional Models
Immigrant Adjustment Hypothesis vs. Immigrant Distress Hypothesis Support for both??!!?? Curvilinear relationship? Complex relationship? Shen & Takeuchi (2001)
Show me the data
Bidimensional Models
Ying (995) Ryder et al. (2002)
Acculturation and Adjustment: Unidimensional Models
Two competing hypotheses: 1) Positive relationship: Immigrant Adjustment Hypothesis 2) Negative relationship: Immigrant Distress Hypothesis & the Epidemiological Paradox Acculturation as unidimensional.
Is Acculturation good for you?
Immigrant Adjustment hypothesis Acculturation is a process of adaptation to a new cultural environment Acculturation to mainstream culture shows adaptability, and mastery in new social and occupational contexts Acculturating helps you function with less stress and greater ease.
Is Acculturation bad for you?
Immigrant Distress hypothesis Stressors or losses encountered during acculturation causes mental health problems The Epidemiological Paradox:
Immigrants have fewer psychiatric disorders than U.S. born ethnic minorities Immigrants who have lived in the U.S. longer have more disorders
Show me the data on Asian Americans!
Uh-oh ?!@#! Support for lots of possibilities
Negative relationship Positive relationship No relationship Complex relationship mechanisms of action
A complex relationship
Shen & Takeuchi (2001) : 3 pathways
Social Support Acculturation
Stress SES Negativity
Depression
Curvilinear relationship?
ADJUSTMENT
Bicultural / Optimal Integrated for adjustment ACCULTURATION
Construing acculturation as a unidimensional construct
Unidimensional Model of Acculturation
Traditional
Native Culture Bicultural
Acculturated
Mainstream Culture
11. What is your movie preference? 1. Only Asian-language movies 2. Mostly Asian-language movies 3. Equally Asian/English English-language movies 4. Mostly English-language movies only 5. English-language movies only
Bidimensional Model
Two Orthogonal Dimensions
Mainstream Culture
Native Culture
Acculturation and Adjustment: Bidimensional Model
Ying (1995) Chinese Americans in S.F.
Hypotheses: Bicultural > Assimilated/Separatist> Marginalized Cultural Activities Social Relations I<S
I/A < S < M I>S I>A>S>M I/A > S I/A > S > M
FINDINGS: Depression
Negative Affect Positive Affect Satisfaction
Unidimensional vs. Bidimensional Models in Explaining Adjustment
Ryder, Alden & Paulhus (2000)
Support for the unidimensional model:
The two dimensions are highly negatively correlated The two dimensions would be inversely related to adjustment variables
Support for the bidimensional model:
the two dimensions are orthogonal the two dimensions distinctly predict adjustment
Findings: Support for Bidimensional Model
Higher scores on mainstream acculturation
Fewer interpersonal problems, Better grades Less social anxiety, shyness, depression
Higher scores on heritage acculturation
Higher family life satisfaction
Conclusion
Acculturation to mainstream culture seemed beneficial, but retention of heritage culture was not harmful