Lueck and Wilson (2010)

Title

acculturative stress in Asian immigrants: the impactof social and linguistic factors

Background

acculturation is the process of adjusting to a non-native culture. it involves changes in identity, values, behaviors, and attitudes. frequently, such changes engender a unique type of distress referred to as accumilative stress

Aim

to investigate the variables that may predict acculturative stress in a nationally representative sample of Asian immigrant and Asian Americans

Participants

the sample consisted of 2095 Asian Americans

1271 were first-generation immigrants who were 18 years or older when they came to the US

the rest of the sample was born in the US to first-generation immigrant parents

the sample consisted of several different Asian cultures (Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese)

Procedure

the researchers carried out semi-structured interviews conducted either face-to-face or over the Internet by interviewers of a similar cultural/linguistic background of participants

a random sample of participants was contacted to validate the data taken from the interviews

the interviews measured the participants' level of acculturative stress, the impact of language proficiency, language preference, discrimination, social networks, family cohesion, and socioeconomic status on this stress

Results

of the 2095 participants, 1433 were found to have acculturative stress (70%)

Conclusion

a bilingual language preference contributes to lower acculturative stress because social networks can be constructed with family and friends --> wider support system

the preference for speaking only English is a predictor of high acculturative stress

negative treatment (xenophobia, prejudice, harassment, threats) contributes to higher acculturative stress

sharing similar values and beliefs as a family significantly contributes to lower acculturative stress*

Method

semi-structured interview

Critical thinking: methodological considerations

strengths:

- provides detailed (rich qualitative) information

- provides insight for further research

- permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations

- high ecological validity

limitations:

- inability to generalize results to the wider population

- researcher bias

- difficult to replicate (but other studies, like that of Clive Wearing, display the same results confirm the findings)

- time-consuming ?

Critical thinking: alternative explanations

as the questionnaire and tests do not ensure a 100% accurate reflection of the individual's lives and adjustment to the foreign culture (social desirability bias), the study does not investigate the roots/basis of the participants' reported responses, hence suggesting that the conclusions drawn from the results may be influenced by several external factors which were not considered (biological factors)

this contributes to the low generalizability of the results

(method of interview conduction may influence results)

Critical thinking: gender bias

the study does not exhibit gender bias as both men and women participated in the study, widening the generalizability and the scope of applications

(general consequences of gender bias include scientifically misleading results,

the upholding of stereotypical assumptions, and validation of sex discrimination)

Critical thinking: ethical considerations

the study was ethical because there was informed consent, the participants were not deceived, they were debriefed, their identities remained confidential, they could withdraw, and they were protected from mental and physical harm

Critical thinking: cultural considerations

using an etic approach, thus generalizing the results to the immersion of other cultures, the study bears no cultural bias as it involved the participation of diverse individuals of Latino descent

Critical thinking: applications

describing attitudes and enabling face validity (prediction), the findings can be used to help understand the relationship between acculturation, psychological adjustment, and health (family conflicts, academic performance, utilization of health services)

How does this study demonstrate aspects of acculturation?

this study illustrates the concept of acculturation according to Berry's model, thus suggesting that the process leads to psychological and cultural differences in members of the two cultures under investigation; the study hence demonstrates that integration into a foreign culture, meaning the interaction with the dominant culture while maintaining pesonal idenitty, the status of being bi-cultural reduces acculturative stress.

the study, therefore, answers the main questions of Berry's model, suggesting that one's original identity should be balanced with the task of getting involved with the foreign cultural group