Acculturative Stress And Quality Of Life Among Older Korean Immigrants: Do Religiosity And Resilience Matter?, Sunghwan Cho

Theses and Dissertations

The impact of acculturative stress on the quality of life among older adults has been widely acknowledged in previous literature. However, few studies have explored the role of religiosity and resilience in this relationship among older Korean immigrants. This dissertation explores the relationships between acculturative stress, religiosity, resilience, and quality of life among 300 older adults aged 65 years and over who live in an ethnic Korean enclave of Queens, New York. The study employs path analysis and multiple regression analyses to test hypothesized relationships among these variables.

The key findings of the study are as follows: (1) higher acculturative …

Preserving My Arab Self While Finding My Home In Canada: First Generation Recent Arab Immigrant Emerging Adults’ Perspectives On Acculturation Experiences And Canadian Society’S Role In Fostering Equitable Participation, Riham Al-Saadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the essence of Arab immigrant emerging adults’ acculturation is a developing area of research and cultural studies in Social Work amongst other fields. Critical Race Theory (CRT) allows for contextualizing this phenomenon within the temporal and environmental structures in which it is experienced. The current study used qualitative inquiry; particularly psychological phenomenology was applied to arrive at the essence of acculturation. A total of 27 Arab immigrant emerging adults living in Windsor-Essex participated in this study and five themes emerged to inform how they understand the acculturation process. Arab immigrant emerging adults understand acculturation as a mutual dedication of …

The Challenges Of Acculturating In The Los Angeles County: Immigrants Of Latin American Countries, Melissa Saldana-Alvarez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study intends to identify the barriers that may impede new immigrants from successfully acculturating in the United States. The researcher collected qualitative data through audio-recorded face-to-face-interviews with the participants. Participants were recruited through a local agency that provides a number of services to immigrant in the community. Data collected was transcribed and analyzed for the development of categories of individual, family, group, organizational, and community involvement in the lives of new immigrants who attempt to acculturate in this country. The research findings reveal the need for mental health, medical, and educational services, and workshops about rights and laws in …

Does Ethnic Identity, In-Group Preference, And Acculturation Protect Latinas With A History Of Interpersonal Trauma From Developing Symptoms Of Ptsd?, Evelyn M. Ramirez

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Previous research suggests ethnic identity, a sense of belonging to a particular cultural group, may be protective against symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the role of ethnic identity, in-group preference (i.e., an individual’s preference for interactions with members of their own ethnic group) and acculturation (i.e., the level of comfort with the mainstream culture) have not been investigated as protective factors for Latinas with a history of interpersonal and sexual trauma. In this study, ethnic identity, in-group preference and acculturation were assessed via self-report on the Scale of Ethnic Experience in two samples of undergraduate Latina and non-Latina …

Acculturation And Depression Among Older U.S. Immigrants: A Systematic Review, Sunghwan Cho

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review examines how acculturation affects depressive symptoms of older U.S. immigrants. Upon through review of the present literature, five articles were identified as meeting inclusion criteria and analyzed based on the ecological theory. Common themes identified throughout the reviewed studies include enhancing family support, community support, and cultural contexts. Results of this review conclude the micro and meso system such as family and social network supports help older adult immigrants interact with the mainstream American culture, which leads to a reduction of depressive symptoms of older adult immigrants. Also, the review identified that it is helpful for service …

The Impact Of Acculturation Among Hmong Caregivers, Mai La Vue

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research study explores the impact of acculturation among Hmong caregivers within the Twin Cities region, who the Hmong caregivers are today, and what caregiving in the Hmong community looks like today. A sample of four respondents were recruited in the Twin Cities region who are Hmong and are providing care for an older adult in the home. Two surveys were used to analyze the demographics and acculturation of the Hmong Caregivers. A qualitative survey explored how acculturation has impacted the respondents in terms of caregiving. The outcomes of the study indicated that majority of the caregivers were women who …

Barriers To Mental Health Treatment For Refugees In Maine : An Exploratory Study, Hayley Fitzgerald

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers refugees face when it comes to accessing mental health treatment in Maine. Research suggests that refugees underutilize mental health services throughout the United States, despite equal to higher rates of mental health symptoms when compared to the general population. To acquire data, eight refugees were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Participants were asked to share about their perceptions of mental illness and mental health treatment, discuss coping mechanisms that they find useful, and offer suggestions for providers working with refugees. Major findings included that stigma, fear, language, and cultural …

Uncovering The Processes And Consequences Of Egyptian Immigrant Parental Involvement In Their Children’S Education: Bridging Cultural Differences, Hend Shalan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

For more than a decade, researchers have concluded that immigrant parents face several barriers to becoming involved in their children’s education. All studies agree that language and cultural differences are the most significant barriers to immigrants’ involvement in their children’s education, yet we know little about what these cultural differences are and how these cultural differences influence the school involvement of immigrant parents. This study integrates theories of cultural differences, acculturation, and culture shock and the corresponding literature to investigate the lesser involvement of immigrant parents in school-related activities.

A focused ethnographic design was employed and a thematic analysis …

Resettlement Challenges For Refugees In The United States, Rebecca Joie Habeeb-Silva

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored the resettlement-related challenges that refugees encounter in the United States (U.S.). It utilized a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews with three refugee families from different countries of origin: Afghanistan, Burma, and Iraq. The interviews were analyzed through a system of coding and categorization in order to develop themes of commonly reported challenges across participants. Six dominant themes of resettlement‑related challenges were identified: employment, financial insecurities, bureaucracy, English language competency, family separation, and unfulfilled expectations and hope. The participants also reported that these challenges had negative effects on their mental health and described feeling worried and depressed. …

Views On Seeking Mental Health Services In The Somali Community, Hamdi H. Adan

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There is a need for culturally sensitive and suitable health care in the United States since there is a rising population of immigrants and refugees that reside in this country. The purpose of this research is to examine the views of mental illness among Somali individuals that live in the United States. A quantitative design was used for the collection of the data by using survey. Thirty six participants completed the written survey. Data was analyzed using a descriptive and inferential statistics to investigate the relationship between the participant’s level of education, the participants’ length of stay in the United …

A Tale Of Two Cultures: A Qualitative Narrative Of Nigerian Immigrant Parenting In The United States, Chinwe Onwujuba

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Current demographic estimates indicate that the foreign-born population makes up about 13% (40 million) of the total U.S. population. This number consists of immigrants from all over the world, with a larger majority originating from Latin America and Asia. Research in the area of immigrant adaptation is robust and compelling; however, it is replete with studies on immigrants from the cultural regions identified above, and not as much on other regions with relatively less numerical representation, specifically Africa. From this region, Nigerian individuals and families make up a larger portion of this immigrant group. This study employs a qualitative research …

The Hmong Community: Acculturation And Utilization Of Domestic Violence Services, Hlee Moua

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examined the cultural beliefs surrounding domestic violence of those in the Hmong community and the role of acculturation and how these affect the utilization of domestic violence services. Domestic violence is an issue in many communities but often hidden or not spoken of in the Hmong community. Some of the overarching themes that have been identified to play a role in domestic violence in the Hmong community include various cultural norms, such as patriarchal values, traditional gender roles, and the value of family, with the addition of acculturation difficulties. A mixed method study was facilitated using the General …

Acculturative Stress And Coping Strategies Used By Asian Indians Living In The United States: A Quantitative And Qualitative Inquiry, Ritu V. Thaker

Dissertations

The present research addressed acculturative stress experiences and coping strategies used by Asian Indians residing in the United States. The organizing research question was "What are the acculturative stress experiences and coping strategies used by first generation Asian Indians living in the United States?" The research question was explored through fourteen hypotheses.

A mixed method approach was employed. For the first phase, 54 first-generation Asian Indians were recruited from four sites using a purposive convenience sampling method, the SAFE-R standardized questionnaire was used to measure acculturative stress, the COPE scale to measure coping strategies, and a culturally grounded Socio-Demographic Information …

Hispanics, Acculturation, And Parenting, Rocio Chavez De Alvarado

MSW Capstones

This qualitative, exploratory study examined the experiences of immigrant Hispanic parents when raising their children in the American culture. Through the use of purposive sampling six parent-participants and five youth-participants were identified and selected. The study’s inclusion criteria established the participation of individuals with the following characteristics: a) immigrant Hispanic parents who immigrated to the US within the last 20 years and who have been raising their children in the American culture, especially in the State of Washington; b) 12 to 19 years old US born youth whose parents are Hispanic immigrants; or c) 12 to 19 years old immigrant …

Unaccompanied Refugee Minors And Their Strategies To Navigate A New World: A Grounded Theory, Justin Scott Lee

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE MINORS AND THEIR STRATEGIES TO NAVIGATE A NEW WORLD: A GROUNDED THEORY By Justin Scott Lee A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Chair: Pamela J. Kovacs, Ph.D. Associate Professor This study explored how unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) define success. The population of URMs consists of individuals who, through forced migration from their country of origin, were resettled in the United States through the URM program. Little is known about the ways in which refugee adolescents view the resettlement process …

Sibling Suicide In Indo-American Families: Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, And Family Relationships, Suresh Unni

Dissertations

This study investigated suicide in Indo-American families. Relationships between acculturation, acculturative stress, and family relationships in completed suicides of Indo-American youth were examined. Snowball sampling procedures were used to find six adult sibling survivors of suicide as participants. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted by the researcher. Grounded theory strategies were used to analyze data and generate theory. Analysis of results yielded both protective and risk factors for suicide. Acculturation risk factors resulted from homogeneous populations lacking in diversity while protective factors were progressive and integrated neighborhood and schools. Integration was the preferred mode of acculturation by participants and suicide victims. …

Immigration As A "Theologizing Experience": Spiritual Well-Being As A Moderating Factor In Migratory Grief And Acculturation, Irma A. Sharp

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of spiritual well-being to migratory grief and acculturation. The study employed a cross-sectional design and a convenience sampling method. Data were collected from 75 Mexican immigrant adult education students in the city of Chicago. Instruments used to collect data were a demographic form, Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Migratory Grief and Loss Questionnaire, and the Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale. All instruments were translated into Spanish, the native language of the participants. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the moderator effects of existential well-being and religious well-being, the two sub-scales of the …

The Civic Engagement Of Latino Immigrants In The United States, Cristina Michele Tucker

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study employs acculturation and civic engagement theories to explain the incorporation and engagement of Latino immigrants in American society by examining how demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and characteristics of the immigrant experience, as moderated by acculturation and trust in government influence their civic engagement.

The core component of the study is a secondary data analysis of the 2006 Latino National Survey (Fraga et al., 2008). The study shows that some of the strongest predictors of civic engagement in the Latino immigrant community are citizenship, length of residence in the United States, level of education, household income, age, country of …

Acculturation Of Russian Refugee Adolescents: The Life Domain Of Peer Relationships, Andrew A. Morozov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to uncover the meaning of acculturation as experienced by the Russian refugee adolescents in the domain of peer relationships. This qualitative study implemented a purposeful sampling strategy. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 refugee adolescents from Russia (3 ethnic Russians and 9 Meskhetian Turks), male and female, aged 15-18, who resided in Denver, Colorado. Applying Moustakas's (1994) phenomenology method of analysis, 8 main themes emerged. The essence of the phenomenon can be described in terms of the refugee adolescents' need for self-worth and belongingness. Belongingness is understood as identification with and acceptance by …

An Insight Into The Hispanic Immigrant Experience, Maria Guadalupe Venegas

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Hispanics and their levels of acculturation. This study was carried out using the Post Positivism paradigm. It is hoped that this study helps social work professionals as well as other professionals who work with this population to devleop empathy and understanding of the sacrifices made by this population.

The Effects Of Acculturative Stress On Marital Adjustment Among African Immigrants, Colleen Nomsa Chali

Theses Digitization Project

This quantitative exploratory cross-sectional study collected data through self-administered questionnaires given to 60 African immigrants living in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles area to examine the effects of acculturative stress on marital adjustment.

Acculturation Among A Hispanic Population In San Bernardino County, Jennifer Marie Costa, Maria Lorena Ochoa

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Hispanics and their levels of acculturation. This study's intent was to incorporate variables in order to identify generation and language as defining factors for acculturation. A Likert-type Bidemensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BAS) was used to test six hypotheses.

Acculturation Experience Of Africa Immigrants In The United States Of American, Judi Minage Ukiru

Theses Digitization Project

The conclusions extracted from this research project show that little research has been done on social issues presented by the African immigrant to America. Those charged with public welfare research and intervention must develop tools and strategies necessary to assess the needs of African immigrants, to facilitate their improved adjustment to their environment. African immigrants in the United States can benefit from similar research designs and resources accorded to the Latino and Asian populations.

The Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Social Support, And Acculturation On The Mental And Physical Health Among Korean American Older Adults In Chicago Metropolitan Area, Shinyeol Kim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the way that Socioeconomic status (SES), social support, and acculturation may influence physical and mental health status of Korean American older adults. It was premised that SES, social support and acculturation are directly and/or indirectly related to the mental and physical health status of Korean American older adults manifested by respective symptoms. The following two objectives were established: 1) Explore the characteristics of Korean American older adults including socioeconomic status, acculturation level, social support, and physical and mental health status. 2) Assess direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic status, acculturation level, and …