Portuguese Immigrant Families: The Impact of Acculturation

Abstract

Portuguese immigrants to North America represent a large ethnic group with unique family therapy needs. The present study investigates acculturation and the family lives of Portuguese (Azorean) immigrants in Canada. Methods of analytic induction and constant comparison from grounded theory were used to examine transcripts of interviews with 21 Azorean immigrant women and 28 Azorean immigrant men. A model emerged wherein (a) immigration and acculturation act as stressors on the family unit, as described by the categories Process of Change and Family Relationships; (b) family members adopt generation- and gender-specific acculturative strategies, as illustrated by the categories Duas Culturas (Two Cultures) and Falando Portuges (Speaking Portuguese); and (c) as family members acculturate, discords arise and are resolved according to the cultural traits different members have adopted. The categories Discord Resolution and Preocupação (Preoccupations) illustrate this last dynamic. Implications for family therapy with immigrant families include an indication for community-level interventions, emphasis on confidentiality, awareness of acculturation stress and different acculturative strategies within the family, and aiding the family in the negotiation and integration of a new bicultural reality.

Sudanese Refugees in Australia: The Impact of Acculturation Stress

“…The influence of family dynamics and the strategies each partner utilises can lead to conflict (Morrison & James, 2009). Conflict may occur when a low acculturated partner expects the other partner, who has already adapted to the dominant host culture, to continue to follow premigration values and traditions (Castillo, Conoley, Brossart, & Quiros, 2007).…”

“…Further, there is often a strong influence of family dynamics on acculturation (Morrison & James, 2009). Acculturation is a process that does not necessarily occur uniformly within family groups.…”

“…Gender differences occur in the level of acculturation stress experienced by couples (Darvishpour, 2002;Morrison & James, 2009;Renner & Salem, 2009). Traditional roles undergo change where the host society is very different from the original culture.…”

Mídia lusófona nos EUA: entre a Flórida e a Região Nordeste

“…Portuguese nationals 3 started immigrating to the United States in the 1850s, during the height of the New England whaling industry (Morrison and James, 2009;Williams, 1982;Williams, 2007). From the 1860s to 1870s, immigration from the Azores 4 was at an all time high and again accelerated in the early 1900s, as established social networks of Azoreans in the U.S. encouraged further immigration (Williams, 2007).…”

“…The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 again encouraged immigration and the Azoreans and Cape Verdeans continued immigrating well into the 1980s, many of them working in the textile manufacturing and fishing industries (Morrison and James, 2009). In addition, Portuguese-speaking immigrants settled in Southern New England (RI, CT, & MA), New Jersey, and also worked in the agricultural areas of Central California and Hawaii (Helzer and Machado, 2011;Jouet-Pastre and Braga, 2005).…”