The effect of acculturation and social support on change in mental health among young immigrants

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the mediating and moderating roles of social support in the acculturation-mental health link, and to investigate how these processes combine with self-esteem to affect mental health change. Questionnaire data were collected twice from 137 immigrant students, first at the upstart in junior high school, and then again a year later (8th and 9th grade). Acculturation was described in positive terms as a developmental process towards gaining competence within more than one sociocultural setting. Perceived discrimination and ethnic identity crisis were included as risk factors in this process. A model of structural relations was tested, which after some modifications demonstrated a close fit to the data. The results supported our suggestions of two indirect paths of effects of acculturation on mental health change: one through culture domain-specific social support and another through self-esteem. Self-esteem was also identified as a mediator of identity crisis. Significant interaction effects between social support and culture competencies were demonstrated in addition to buffer effects of class and family support in relation to identity crisis and discrimination respectively. The study adds to our understanding of positive and negative developmental pathways in multicultural societies.

The Intergenerational Transmission of Values in National and Immigrant Families: The Role of Zeitgeist

“…In their acculturation development hypothesis, Oppedal et al (Oppedal 2006;Oppedal et al 2004) have argued that the developmental trajectory an immigrant adolescent follows will depend on the groups they interact with and the kinds of social support they get from the groups. In this study, we find support for the fact that influence from outside the home is quite influential, suggesting that immigrant parents have to put in extra effort in the socialization of their children, the more time that their children spend with national peers.…”

“Thinking Too Much”: Psychological distress, sources of stress and coping strategies of resettled Afghan and Kurdish refugees

“…In particular, a high prevalence of mental health problems among Afghans and other refugee groups from the Middle East has been documented (Gerritsen et al, 2006;Hosin, Moore, & Gaitanou, 2006;Miller et al, 2006;Mofidi, Ghazinour, Araste, Jacobsson, & Richter, 2008;Taloyan, Johansson, Johansson, Sundquist, & Kocturk, 2006), which may manifest as behavioral shifts or lead to acculturative stress characterized by depression, anxiety, uncertainty, or dysphoria (Allen, Vaage, & Hauff, 2006;Berry, 2002). Although social support has been shown to enhance coping and promote health, (Ghazinour, Richter, & Eisemann, 2004;Oppedal, Roysamb, & Sam, 2004;Simich, Beiser, & Mawani, 2003) the involuntary nature of the refugee experience predisposes refugees to stress reactions. As the Middle East and Afghanistan continue to feature prominently in current affairs reports, there is an ongoing potential risk of retraumatization for those who have fled conflict situations (Porter & Haslam, 2005;Sondergaard, Ekblad, & Theorell, 2001), and, public perceptions of refugees from these regions may be tainted by stereotypes.…”

Sharing optimal experiences and promoting good community life in a multicultural society

“…As detected in several cross-cultural studies, family represents the core social unit of most societies. It provides support and protection, fulfilling basic affiliation needs (Oppedal, Roysamb, & Sam, 2004). The family plays an even more relevant role in the context of immigration: when present, it provides a safe harbour against daily hassles in a new cultural environment; when far away, it makes daily challenges meaningful and worth facing in order to pursue its well-being in the long term.…”